Baseball and softball umpires are affected by heat-related illness like other professionals who work in the outdoor environment. Many officials are volunteers while other receives compensation for their efforts. Regardless of the level of officiating from Little League to the Major Leagues, most are affected by heat-related illness in the summertime. Although heat-related illness is discussed in general by some colleges and high schools in their programs, the umpiring associations engaging these officials has failed to recognize the hazard and risks. In order to provide awareness of heat-related illness and how it affects an umpire’s performance on the field, a presentation was created to train officials to understand what happens when they fail to hydrate, rest, and take the necessary precautions that can affect their health. Heat exhaustion is the primary cause for umpires to make poor judgments for calling balls and strikes as well as making critical decisions on rotating into position to make calls on plays. Many lower level officials will take assignments for doubleheaders or multiple game assignments in the summer without regard for their ability to meet expectations. By creating awareness, we hope to improve the lives of baseball and softball officials and improve their performance on the field by understanding the effects of heat-related illness.
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The Health Effect of Heat-Illness on Baseball and Softball Umpires
1. Heat Illness
Presented by:
Bernard L. Fontaine, Jr., CIH, CSP, AIHA Fellow
Member of the New Jersey State Federation of
Baseball Umpires (NJSFU) and the New Jersey
State Interscholastic Athletic Association
(NJSIAA)
3. New York Times
By MURRAY CHASS
Published: April 2, 1996
BASEBALL: Umpire Dies After Collapsing on Field
John McSherry, working the first inning of his 26th season as a major
league umpire, collapsed and died in Cincinnati yesterday on the
opening day of the baseball season. He was believed to be the first
person to be stricken fatally on the field during a major league baseball
game since 1920.
McSherry, working behind home plate at Riverfront Stadium, called
just seven pitches before walking back toward the stands and
collapsing. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced
dead at University Hospital in Cincinnati about an hour after the start
of the game between the Reds and the Montreal Expos. The hospital
said McSherry, 51 years old, suffered sudden cardiac death.
Heat-Related Deaths
5. • Major concern for all umpires who
work in hot and/or humid conditions
•Affects physiology, judgment and
performance on and off the field
•Affects your physiology especially
for those on medications or afflicted
with certain illnesses and/or disease
Heat Illness
7. Metabolic Heat
• Basal metabolic heat production (at
rest): 60-70 kcal/hr. - 50% from organs
• Exercise metabolic heat production:
1000 kcal/hr.
90% heat for muscle metabolism
• Core body temperature rises 1oC with
every 5-8 minutes of exercise
Heat Illness
8. Thermoregulation
Umpires can lose body heat by:
• Evaporation of sweat from the skin
• Conduction by touching cooler objects
• Convection from a cool breeze, and
• Radiation from release of infrared heat
Heat Illness
9. Human Physiology
• Core body temperature is 98.6 oF
• Body heat is centrally controlled by
the hypothalamus and spinal cord
• Body removes excess metabolic heat
by increasing blood flow to skin and
increasing sweat production
• Evaporation reduced by high humidity
Heat Illness
10. Health problems in hot environments
• Heat rash is most common problem
• Caused by sweating without ability
for moisture to evaporate from skin
• Red cluster of raised pimples or
small blisters
• Appears on neck, upper chest, groin,
under breasts, and elbow creases
Heat Illness
11. Heat Illness Can Progress To More
Serious Symptoms Such As:
• Difficulty breathing
• Mental confusion or incoherence
• Elevated core body temperature
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Tingling of the hands or feet, and
• Death from heat stroke, respiratory
failure or heart attack
Heat Illness
12. Health problems in hot environments
• Heat cramps are muscle pains
caused by physical work in a hot and
humid environment
• Heat cramps result from a continued
loss of body salts and bodily fluids
from continued sweating
Heat Illness
13. Health problems in hot environments
• Heat exhaustion is the next most
serious heat-related health problem
• Signs and symptoms are headache,
nausea, dizziness, weakness,
irritability, confusion, severe thirst,
heavy sweating, and a rising body
temperature greater than 100.4°F
Heat Illness
14. Health problems in hot environments
• Heat exhaustion affects the ability
to call balls/strikes, cover rotations,
and judge safe/out on close plays
• Occurs at any air temperature and
not associated with collapse
• Result of dehydration most common
in hot and humid environments
Heat Illness
16. Health problems in hot environments
• Heat stroke is the most serious
• Occurs when the body temperature
regulating system fails and core
body temperature rises above the
critical level (> 104°F)
• This medical emergency can result
in death and EMS must be activated!
Heat Illness
18. Risk Factors
• High temperature and humidity
• Low fluid consumption
• Direct sun exposure (with no shade)
• Poor nutrition
• Limited air movement (breeze/wind)
• Physical exertion
• Multiple layers of clothing/equipment
Heat Illness
19. Risk Factors
• Poor physical condition
• Ongoing health problems
• Some medications
• Pregnancy
• No prior exposure to hot environment
• Previous heat-related illness
Heat Illness
20. Best Treatment is Prevention
• Proper training for heat symptoms
• Monitor intensity of physical activity
for fitness and acclimatization status
• If symptoms begin during a game,
consult with your partner or athletic
trainer to prevent or treat heat-related
illness
Heat Illness
21. Best Treatment is Prevention
• Replace fluids by hydrating before,
during, and after a game
• Wear light colored and loose fitting
clothes during summer months
• Early recognition via visual monitoring
of partner, especially plate umpire
during extended inning games and/or
multiple game assignments
Heat Illness
22. Acclimatization
• Gradually increase duration/intensity
first 10-14 days of heat exposure
• Full acclimatization takes 12 weeks
of exposure
• Repeated heat exposure helps skin
blood flow, rapid onset of sweating,
increases plasma volume, and helps
decreases metabolic rate
Heat Illness
23. When Should An Umpire Hydrate?
• Drink 16 ounces of water or a sport
drink before and after the game
• Hydration should continue with at least
4-8 fluid ounces every 15-20 minutes
(e.g., every complete inning), especially
for the plate umpire as long as game play
continues
Heat Illness
24. How Should An Umpire Hydrate?
• Plain water is adequate for those
games lasting 45-minutes to 1-hour
• Games more than 1-hour or multiple
games in the same day, fluids should
contain carbohydrates, sodium (Na)
and potassium (K), which are found
in sport drinks
Heat Illness
25. What NOT To Drink
• Drinks with >8% carbohydrate (CHO)
• Fruit juices, sodas, and sport drinks
with >6-8% carbohydrates
• Beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or
carbonation to reduce dehydration
from excess urine production and/or
decreased voluntary fluid intake
Heat Illness
26. How Can Heat Illness Be Treated?
• Get umpire to a cool shaded area
• If heat stroke, remove protective
equipment and cool body rapidly
using cold water immersion or spray
water on body, cold water sponging
or towels, or insert insulated bags of
ice/ice packs behind the neck, under
the arms and groin area
Heat Illness
27. How Can Heat Illness Be Treated?
• Monitor skin or body temperature by
using a thermal scan thermometer
• Provide cool beverages only if the
umpire does not have altered state
of consciousness
• Do not remove wet clothing
• Get medical assistance quickly
Heat Illness
28. How Can Heat Illness Be Prevented?
• Train umpires on health hazards,
risk factors, signs and symptoms
• Increase the number/type of game
assignments during the summer
• Remind umpires to bring and drink
water or sport drinks before, during,
and after the game
Heat Illness
29. How Can Heat Illness Be Prevented?
• Maximum fluid intake is limited to
12 quarts in 24-hours
• Monitor weather and reschedule
games for cooler times of the day
• Use breaks between games for rest/
recovery under a shady tree, covered
dugout, or air-conditioned vehicle
Heat Illness
30. Questions
Thank you for your participation in the course. We hope
that you understand the hazards, risks, and methods to
help prevent heat-related illness while officiating during
the summer. Please have a safe and enjoyable baseball
and/or softball season this year.