Greg Gerkens, a certified school district leader, a school building leader, and a special education teacher, possesses more than 10 years of experience in academia. Passionate about helping his community, Greg Gerkens has contributed to and participated in events such as the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics.

1. DOS AND DON’TS
FOR PARTICIPATING
IN A POLAR PLUNGE
GREG GERKENS

2. INTRODUCTION
• GREG GERKENS, A CERTIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADER, A SCHOOL BUILDING
LEADER, AND A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, POSSESSES MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN ACADEMIA. PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING HIS COMMUNITY, GREG
GERKENS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO AND PARTICIPATED IN EVENTS SUCH AS THE POLAR
PLUNGE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
A FUNDRAISING EVENT, THE POLAR PLUNGE ASKS VOLUNTEERS TO JUMP INTO COLD
WATER IN SUPPORT OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS. OVER THE YEARS, PARTICIPANTS
HAVE DEVELOPED A LIST OF DOS AND DON’TS TO HELP VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT
THROUGH THE EVENT, INCLUDING:
- DO BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO COLD SHOWERS. ENTERING FREEZING WATER
SHOCKS THE BODY, BUT VOLUNTEERS CAN PREPARE WITH THE HELP OF COLD
SHOWERS. VOLUNTEERS SHOULD TRY TAKING A COLD SHOWER FOR 30 SECONDS
AND GRADUALLY WORK THEIR WAY UP TO TWO-MINUTE AND FIVE-MINUTE COLD
SHOWERS.

3. POLAR PLUNGE
• - DON’T STAY IN TOO LONG. THE BODY CAN BECOME INCAPACITATED
WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF ENTERING COLD WATER. HOWEVER, FOR
HEALTHY ADULTS, HYPOTHERMIA LIKELY WON’T SET IN FOR ABOUT 30
MINUTES. REGARDLESS, GETTING OUT OF THE WATER WITHIN
APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES IS BEST.
- DO GET IN FAST. VOLUNTEERS SHOULD JUMP IN ALL AT ONCE INSTEAD
OF WADING IN SLOWLY. THIS ENSURES THE BODY’S CORE TEMPERATURE IS
AT ITS HIGHEST BEFORE ENTERING THE WATER.
- DON’T USE ALCOHOL BEFORE THE PLUNGE. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY
CAN RAISE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE BEFORE THE PLUNGE BY DRINKING
ALCOHOL. IN REALITY, ALCOHOL LOWERS THE BODY TEMPERATURE AND
INCREASES THE RATE AT WHICH HYPOTHERMIA CAN SET IN.