5 Tips For Staying Warm During The Polar Plunge

CHICAGO, IL - Chicago's annual Polar Plunge event for Special Olympics Chicago sees gains in popularity every year and could very easily see more participants in 2018 than ever before. So quite a few people may be taking the plunge into the icy waters of Lake Michigan at North Avenue Beach for the very first time.

Others, like Joe Svachula of the ComEd Coolers team, have the advantage of experience as this has become a yearly early March tradition. Svachula, a Park Ridge resident and the vice president of engineering and smart grid at ComEd, will be taking the plunge for the seventh time on Sunday, March 4 along with his 21-year-old son, Danny, a Special Olympian.

"Year after year, my family and colleagues look forward to heading out to North Avenue Beach for the Annual Chicago Polar Plunge," Svachula, also a member of the Special Olympics Chicago board of directors, said.

He's shared with Patch five tips for first-time plungers on staying as comfortable as possible during the daring endeavor.

1. Prepare for the frigid temperature.
If you’re nervous about entering Lake Michigan in March, prepare yourself for the shock of the cold water with a cold shower. It’s your best bet at anticipating what the plunge may feel like.

2. Take it easy.
According to Special Olympics Chicago, there are no depth requirements for the Polar Plunge. If you’re a first-time plunger, try going in ankle high or knee deep – whatever you are comfortable with.

3. Don’t stay in the water too long.
It’s a polar plunge, not a polar swim. There’s no need to spend more than a brief moment in the lake. Hustle in, hustle out, and change into some dry clothes.

4. Quickly change out of your wet clothes.
On that note, you will be cold after the plunge, and staying in your wet clothes is not only uncomfortable, but it’s not good for your health either. Change into a warm set of clothes immediately after the plunge to help your body adjust back to a normal temperature.

5. Most importantly – plunge with a group!
As part of the ComEd Coolers, I am lucky enough to plunge with my family and more than 600 of my closest colleagues. Their support, excitement, and distraction makes jumping in the frigid lake much easier and more enjoyable.

Donate to the ComEd Coolers team here.

Photo: Joe Svachula with his son, Danny. Courtesy of ComEd