Umpiring with Pacemaker

[Guest Dave]

Anybody out there umpiring that has a pacemaker ?

Recently had heart surgery including having a pacemaker put in.

Feeling great now but still healing up. Hopefully ready to go in January (I'm in Florida so baseball season just about never ends).

Do up thru HS and some of the pitchers around here hit an honest 90 mph with the fastball.

I wear the new West Vest.

Just somewhat concerned there might be a problem if I get hit in the chest in just the right spot.

Anybody here with first hand knowledge ?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

[Mudisfun]

What does your heart doctor, your association and your insurance say about taking a hit to the chest?

[HokieUmp]

Dave, I gotta agree with @Mudisfun - this is probably the least-qualified group to ask.  a) because everyone loves umpiring too much to want to tell someone not to do it, and b) I can't recall anyone saying they're a board-certified cardiologist.

However, being completely unqualified about a subject never stopped me before, so why start a trend now?  If your chest is healed up from the cutting and cracking, I would think a hard-shell protector would be sufficient.  I mean, could you get hit in such a way and place that would cause issues with your heart?  Sure.  But so could anyone here on this site, surgery or otherwise.

But DO speak to your cardiologist about this.

[Mister B]

Talk with your doctor, that's what they are for. I too, don't know how a shot with a hard-shell would affect your pacemaker, but I'm not a doctor, nor have I take a 90+ fastball to the chest. Discuss options as well, perhaps stick with JV and below for a while and see how you feel. IIRC, somebody makes an undershirt with a thin layer of memory foam for catchers. That could be something to look into as well. 

[Aging_Arbiter]

They have them for adults too!  If Doc clears you, there are always "added" precautions you could take.

 

[stkjock]

/\ I had my son wear the Evoshield set up last year for his last season on the small field.  Well made unit and seems to offer decent protection.

 

As others have said, talk to the Doc, he'll know the risks of taking a hit to the chest more than anyone here.

 

Good luck and get well 

[jjb]

We had an Umpire who had heart surgery a few years ago. He was concerned about taking a shot to the chest, so we got him a raft CP. Never had an issue.

[LRZ]

FWIW, last year, I worked with someone with a pacemaker. He only worked the bases, although I don't know if this was by doctor's orders, a safety precaution, or his personal choice.

[umpstu]

Not sure about a pacemaker, but I had a 6 way bypass on July 1, 2008 and haven't had any issues.  Wear the 2nd generation Force3 and it protects me well.  Also used to wear a West Vest.  Quite funny when a 90+ mph fastball bounces off the West Vest.  The loudness scares the the baba's out of the benches.  I have no idea what baba's are so discuss.

[SJA]

Didn't  "our" Mike Taylor have heart surgery and after healing continue to umpire?

:-?