Wet Bulb Chart

Talk of hygrometers, psychrometers, and wet bulb thermometers is not common vernacular for the average soccer administrator, or even The Administrator for that matter.  However, these tools have been used to devise an intricate formula which may save the life of one of your club members this summer.

As the temperatures rise and your young players venture out into the soaring heat to play the game they love, it is important to know the risks associated with heat-related illness.

Originally developed in 1956 by the US Marine Corps to gauge the necessary water intake based on heat and humidity levels, the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) can serve as a crucial guide to providing a safe environment for your players this year.

Why not just use a thermometer?

While traditional dry thermometers are a useful tool for calculating the normal air temperature, it is important to also factor in the humidity levels and intensity of the sun in combination with the temperature.  This is where the WBGT comes into play.  Using a wet bulb thermometer (humidity indicator), a dry bulb thermometer (air temperature), a black globe (solar intensity), and a relatively simple formula the WBGT and relative heat index provides invaluable information on the work to rest/hydration ratios.

So how do I figure out the WBGT?

While some more adventurous administrators will break out the pad and pencil and attempt to figure out the formula, I would suggest a quick trip to this website .  Here you can enter the temperature and humidity levels to the heat index calculator then compare this number to the WGBT chart.  This chart which runs from levels 1 to 5 based on the aforementioned combination, illustrates the recommended level of activity as well as proper hydration based on the intensity of exercise.

How can I communicate this information to my club?

Use your online club management service to help initiate new heat related policies within your club.  Currently the US military uses a flag system to inform those “in the field” of the current WGBT for example:

Category           WBGT               Flag Color

1                      78-82                No flag

2                      82-85                Green

3                      85-88                Yellow

4                      88-90                Red

5                      90+                   Black

Use these flags at your fields to get the word out.  Then add a section to your current webpage regarding heat warnings and the associated flags.  A quick email blast through your bulk email tool or an excerpt within your e-newsletter will help assure that your club is aware of what the flags mean and the risks and hydration levels associated with each WBGT level.

What if I am on the field and do not have access to the heat index/WBGT calculator?

Depending on your geographic location, your club may want to invest in a Wet Globe Kit.  For around $300 your club can purchase a kit to continuously monitor the WBGT.  This tool is certainly important for clubs in areas which typically incur high temperatures and humidity.  Furthermore, for clubs which host tournaments comprised of out –of-state competitors who may not be accustomed to the heat, this could potentially be a life saving device.  Click here to learn more.

The Administrator wants to know what steps your club has taken to help your members beat the heat and promote proper hydration within your organization.  Post a comment below, send an email to Jon@bluesombrero.com, or call 404-835-0305.

Comments

[DK]

Our club is based in Florida and we use a similar warning system at our fields, when the weather is especially dangerous for the players. However, we may need to look into purchasing one of those machines also

[Janet Jenkins]

This can be pretty scary stuff! I've found that it is great to educate all club members on the warning signs of heat related problems and how to handle the player should they being to get sick.

[Patrick Alexander]

There exists an anti-thesis to this particular phenomenon. That is, in extremely dry environments, those who are accustomed to moist climates MAY not adapt well to the "dry" heat. I 'visited' Kuwait, back in the early 90's. It only took a few days for me to adapt, since I hail from Southern California, the Inland Empire [near the deserts - Mojave territory]. Months into our tour, the guys who came from Tennessee, Missouri, etc. could not seem to understand that, even though they saw no perspiration on their skin, THEY WERE STILL LOSING WATER. Even those from Texas (where I was stationed at the time), which is RELATIVELY humid compared to California, "fooled" people into thinking they weren't getting dehydrated. We had soldiers passing out left and right.