COLD WATER SAFETY
💧 COLD WATER SAFETY 💧 Cold water is wonderful, but can be dangerous, or even fatal. These are a few guidelines, but always do your own research too;
- Never jump in - ease yourself in slowly, to avoid shocking your body. If you shock your body, you will gasp and hyperventilate which can cause you to inhale water (drown)
- Control your breathing from the start
- Stay within your depth and avoid fast moving water and strong currents
- Wear water shoes to protect your feet
- Check that the floor is solid
- Before getting in, make sure you can easily get out
- Go in warm
- Stay close to the edge while you check that your body can handle the drop in temperature and that you can maintain normal use of your limbs
- Don't stay in too long and always come out before you start shivering
- Have a towel, lots of warm clothes and a warm drink ready for when you get out
- Bear in mind that your body temperature can continue to drop for quite a while after you get out - this is called 'after drop' and is the result of the cooled blood in your extremities returning to your core. Allow for this.
- Don't drive until your temperature has returned to normal
- If you're new to cold water, consider starting in summer and gradually work your way up to colder water
- Be aware that deep water can still be very cold in summer
- Practice tolerance with cold showers
- Don't do a cold water immersion if you have heart or other health conditions that may make it especially dangerous
- Trust your instincts. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it
- It's a good idea to have a spotter in case of emergency
COLD WATER HEALTH BENEFITS
Cold water immersion has lots of reported health benefits:
- Boosts the immune system and wards off disease
- Improves mood
- Increases energy levels
- Boosts metabolism and promotes healthy weight management
- Improves circulation
- Increases wellbeing
- Improves mental fortitude
- Increases resilience to stress
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