Among all of the fund-raisers that go on here, not one makes so much money in so little time as the Jan. 1 “polar” plunges. Over the years, these have grown from a handful of participants to hundreds. This year at East Hampton Main Beach about 600 people took it off for a good cause and sprinted into a 48-degree Atlantic Ocean. An estimated 150 folks jumped in at Wainscott’s Beach Lane plunge. Between the two, some $40,000 was raised for charity. Wainscott’s $5,000 will go to the Sag Harbor Food Pantry and East Hampton’s roughly $35,000 to the one in East Hampton.
Neither of these chilly but fun events would happen if not for the effort of scores of volunteers. Ambulance personnel are on hand and members of the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad, as well as local lifeguards, make sure all participants get safely in and out of the water. There are also people to take donations and check plungers in. At Main Beach they also distributed 500 hats to the plungers before the supply ran out, as yet more people streamed in.
The annual New Year’s Day event is hardly the only time people get into the bay or ocean during the off-season. Last year on the North Fork a group raised $50,000 for local low-income individuals and families. For those for whom the frigid dips in East Hampton or Wainscott were not enough, the North Fork Polar Bears plan to do it again on Jan. 28.
Winter surfers have long noticed that they came down with fewer colds than their landlubber friends. Now the benefits are better understood. Proponents of cold water swimming, as well as researchers, say that it can help boost the immune system. Additionally, it is believed to lower blood pressure, result in a reduced chance of upper respiratory infections, and even help brighten one’s mood. A significant antidepressant effect has been noted by scientists. Regular winter swimming has also been shown to improve general well-being in swimmers who suffered from rheumatism, fibromyalgia, or asthma. There are risks, to be sure, and these dips should never be attempted alone or by people in poor health, especially those with heart conditions. Starting slowly in the company of experienced swimmers is key.
Give it a go, if you dare, but do so safely.