What is the Polar Plunge Special Olympics?

What is the Polar Plunge Special Olympics?

The Polar Plunge—sometimes held in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Torch Run— is a huge fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics and the athletes. In order to participate, individuals or teams collect pledges from friends, family, and colleagues to lock in their spot!

What is the point of the Polar Plunge?

A polar bear plunge is an event held during the winter where participants enter a body of water despite the low temperature. In the United States, polar bear plunges are usually held to raise money for a charitable organization. In Canada, polar bear swims are usually held on New Year’s Day to celebrate the new year.

What happens to your body during a Polar Plunge?

The reason: Plunging into the water activates a number of cold receptors that reside underneath the skin, kickstarting a process called “cold shock.” This can give you an adrenaline rush, but it makes you hyperventilate: Your heart rate increases, your blood pressure rises, and your breathing speeds up, says Tipton.

Where is the Polar Plunge?

The Polar Plunge is a series of events where people go to the extreme to support Special Olympics Minnesota….2022 Leaderboard.

How do you prepare for a Polar Plunge?

Bring a robe, blanket, towel or jacket to wear while waiting to plunge and for when you get out of the water. A towel to dry off as well as an extra towel to stand on is also a good idea. Wear tennis or water shoes. Not only is the ground freezing, but your feet will be numb in the water and it’s good precaution.

When did the Polar Plunge start?

Starting as far back as the 1920s, the Polar Plunge – or Polar Bear Swims/Dips, as they’re also known – trace their origins back to a Canadian tradition.

Is Polar Plunge healthy?

Doctors, however, aren’t so convinced that these plunges are good for you, noting that there is no solid evidence of any physical health benefits associated with swimming in freezing cold water. In fact, they say, the sudden drop in temperature can be dangerous for people with underlying health issues.

Has anyone died from the Polar Plunge?

Such cold water dips are popular, but statistics on the injuries they inflict don’t really exist. “There are thousands of people who do this every year,” says Gordon Giesbrecht, a researcher at the University of Manitoba and a leading expert on hypothermia and cold injuries, “and deaths are rare.”

Can you get sick from doing a polar plunge?

One of the most common causes of hypothermia is cold-water immersion, particularly in water below 10°C (50°F). Everyone watching or participating in a Polar Bear Plunge (or taking part in any winter activity) should know the signs of hypothermia and what to do in the event it happens to someone around you.

Is a Polar Plunge safe?

Jumping into cold water causes a strong gasping reflex, and if the plunger’s head is underwater, a mouth- or lungful of water could result. Therefore, plunges that involve cutting a hole in ice for people to jump through carry the greatest risk of drowning.

Where did the Polar Plunge start?

The History of Polar Bear Plunge Day The first recorded Polar Bear Swim took place in Boston 1904. In many Canadian communities, plunging into icy water for a swim is a New Year’s Day tradition.