On a hot and humid day, Shore Conference Umpire Paul Hooker was struggling to beat the heat. “I felt it come on by the end of the second inning. I tried to push through it for a couple of innings and then it just got to me”. Hooker was removed from the game and attended to by the licensed athletic trainer when he complained of dizziness, difficulty breathing and an irregular heart rate.
“Umpires probably need to be as vigilant and concerned as athletes when working a game in the heat” remarked Eric Nussbaum, President of the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey. “Normally your body dissipates heat through sweating and evaporation but umpires often wear a heavy chest protector, dark clothing, and a hat or helmet which impedes their ability to dissipate heat”.
“I’m in good shape and this has never happened to me before” stated Hooker. I’m really glad that an athletic trainer was available and able to quickly cool me down and get me the appropriate care. I know heat illness can be bad and despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t work through it.”