Much has been made about improving the performance of players on the field – while also helping keep them cool in extreme heat. But in baseball, the players aren’t the only ones on the field, and now new technology could help those in black – namely the umpires – stay cool.
The Associate Press reports:
All major league umpires will have access this summer to technology that was developed for the military during the first Gulf War.
Instead of traditional cooling packs of ice, which can get damp and heavy as they thaw, this technology relies on regulated heat transfer – and the packs only absorb or release as much heat is needed to achieve the ideal temperature for the wearer. This means the same padded vest can fight heat stress and hypothermia, as well as provided prolonged treatment with cold therapy that just couldn’t be done with ice alone.
And as noted, this isn’t exactly new technology – but it is new to sports.
It seems this line of cooling attire from HTFx, Inc.’s RiteTemp Athletics has made its way to law enforcement and firefighters and now heading to the big league diamonds. This makes sense, because if the umpires can’t stay cool in the heat how can we expect the players to do the same?
RiteTemp Athletics Official Website
[Via AP: Cooling technology helping umps handle the heat]