Disposable Heroes By David Weiman Summary

Common Ground

There have been issues today on the subject of sports helmets being essential with or without wearing them during a sport. A neurologist from Pennsylvania David Weisman supplies information associated with the brain. Weisman explains with supportive information that the injuries in sports even with helmets can still cause bigger problems other than concussions, such as suicide, dementia, disorders and odd behavior. In the article “Disposable Heroes” written on January 2011. Weisman feels the use of helmets for athletes cannot be as useful as they seem to be. An adventure, writer and pilot Lane Wallace composed a much different article “Do Sports Helmets Help or Hurt?”. Wallace points out that we hit a person harder when they are wearing protection because we believe they are already safe when geared up. Wallace has provided intelligent points in why sports helmets are mostly dangerous for any athlete’s safety

In many places around us there are televisions everywhere presently.

The most popular televised today are sports and many of us fans love the intensity of the game. Weisman posits that TVs show it all, but do not implement a broad, further cognitive glimpse (Weisman, par4). The author provides a deeper look into what the damages can be when wearing a helmet. Wearing a helmet does not always help as much as it is supposed to. Neurologist of Pennsylvania, David Weisman forwards that “As force is applied to the brain, a shockwave ripples through. If large enough, the shock tears the axons and can result in catastrophic injury” (229). When this happens, it happens even when wearing a helmet and causes a concussion which can get much worse. Weisman specifies that athletes can be at risk even when wearing a helmet. Weisman supports his evidence of helmets not being as constructive as they are made to be by implementing examples of other athletes that have suffered so much it became

suicidal.
Although helmets may not fully terminate injuries, but they are immensely helpful, but does not always increase safety. Author Lane Wallace, writer and pilot, posits that “Taken by itself, it’s easy enough to prove that wearing a helmet, like wearing a seatbelt, decreases the chance of severity of injury in an impact. But humans are far more complex creatures than crash test dummies. And the true impact of safety equipment becomes far more complex, as well” (232). A British researcher John Adams has numerous logical reasons why helmets or other safety equipment is not always reducing injuries. To reduce the risk of injury Adams proses that people have “risk thermostats”, and that we all accommodate our demeanor to protect the matched danger in our lives that we asset sufficient (Adams, par5). Wallace has provided evidence of support that a researcher has claimed “safety equipment doesn’t make as much of a difference as its proponents believe it will” (Adams232). Sports helmets do not reduce the risk of injury as much as previously believed, and many cause injuries because of risk of compensation. The risk compensation makes the player feel they have adequate protection to engage to the risk or behavior on the field.
“safety equipment doesn’t make as much of a difference as its proponents believe it will” (Adams232). Wallace has provided effective examples to support her evidence. Sports helmets do not always reduce the risk of injuries. Protection is said to cause more injury because it influences a player to take bigger risks. Wallace provides useful information and examples of why we are at higher risk of injuries when wearing protection by providing evidence of a lacrosse high school athlete who said “I think helmets encourage you to push the limits of whatever the rules are”. This evidence has shown that players are willing to hit harder because they believe there is enough protection.
The issue of sports helmets being essential with or without wearing them during a sport have been determined that it is not always helpful. The two articles have given valuable information on the subject. Sports helmets are not always helpful for all athletes and there are other solutions regarding the safety of sports helmets. Even when wearing a helmet, it can still cause a various amount of problems other than concussions. Athletes may look like the part, but no matter what an athlete wears to protect themselves others should always be aware that it does not fully protect themselves or others. In order to prevent injuries there must be strict rules in order be injury prone.