Frigid Temperatures
The high temperature on Saturday hovered around 20 degrees with a strong wind that made the air feel as if it was much colder. The low was around four degrees at the South Jersey shore so that the wind chill temperature was around 11 degrees below zero. Officials for the plunges throughout the area said it may have been the coldest event since the plunge began. The Manasquan plunge benefits ALS research while the Sea Isle benefits several groups. There was also a Leap in the Lake for Our Special Kids at Hopatcong State Park on Saturday.
Safety Advice
Doctors suggested that those who planned to do the plunge avoid it this year due to the cold, but the majority of the participants said that they were not heeding that advice. Because most people are in and out of the water within ten minutes, doctors say that they are not at risk of frostbite, but that water conducts heat away from the body faster than air. It was recommended that they drop all their warm clothes at once, run into the water, get out and put them back on immediately. Many swimmers had partners with them to help them warm up after the swim. This helped them put on the layers they removed as part of the swim more quickly. For those who were not planning to jump in the water, but were there as moral support or just to witness the event, doctors said it was critical to protect against frostbite. Gloves and hats were a necessity in the biting wind. Doctors said that fingers, toes, the tip of the nose and ears are the most at risk in this type of weather to suffer from the cold. The type of cold experienced on Saturday could lead to frostbite or skin damage in a matter of moments if not protected.
Anticipated Event
Polar Bear Plunges are much anticipated events throughout the country as participants brave cold weather to jump into oceans, lakes and rivers for charity. A wide variety of organizations receive funds from the plunges that are designed to be held during the cold months in order to make them more challenging. Participants on Saturday said that the frigid weather was not a deterrent as it made the event even more exciting.
If you plan to attend a Polar Bear Plunge in the future or any charity event, why not avoid fighting traffic, finding a parking place and dealing with aggressive drivers. Contact Exclusive Taxi and Car Service to let our experienced drivers handle traffic or parking so you can relax on the way to your event. You can arrange for service by giving us a call or finding us online.
Source:
NJ.com