Preparing for a polar plunge

For those who are unaware, a polar plunge involves running into winter water, that’s usually near the freezing mark.

You may remember this scream from the start of 2014.

But this time around, we decided to track the impact of a polar plunge.

The water’s hovering just a few degrees above zero. Combine that with the wind and it’s going to be a big shock to the body.  How big? Let’s find out.

Starting blood pressure: 105 over 62.

Pulse: 83 beats per minute.

Temperature: 98.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

The dozens of plungers from Ontario Correctional Services College are proof that the mind can be mighty.

“It was invigorating. It was wonderful. I’d do it many times again.”

“Cold, but totally worth it. It was a good time.”

But the body feels the burn.

After a quick towel dry, my temperature was down point 4 degrees Fahrenheit to 97.9. A big drop in a short timeframe.

Pulse rate rose 10 beats per minute to 93.

And blood pressure was up almost 35 points to 138 over 93.

For a healthy person, that jump isn’t catastrophic. But it could be for someone who’s prone to a heart attack. That’s why it’s important to consider your risk before taking the plunge.

You also want to make sure you polar dip at an organized event, so if something does go wrong, they have emergency services on site. Plus, most dips are for a great cause. Today, plungers with the Corrections Services College raised about 30 thousand dollars for Special Olympics.