On January 19, 2025, Orthodox believers will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. According to tradition, divine services and Epiphany baths in ice holes and fonts will be held throughout Russia. But as Ekaterina Arshinskaya, general practitioner and nephrologist at SM-Clinic, warned in a conversation with socialbites.ca, you should be careful and closely monitor your condition, since cold shock is possible when swimming in an ice hole.
“Cold shock is a sudden and dangerous reaction of the body to cold. It is caused by sharp constriction of blood vessels and muscle spasms in response to exposure to cold. A person’s immersion in cold water initially causes a sharp increase in the number of heart contractions and an increase in blood pressure; “Respiratory muscles reflexively contract, which can cause water to enter the respiratory tract,” he warned.
Symptoms of cold shock include, in particular, such phenomena as hyperventilation – cold water causes a sharp breath, which leads to a rapid loss of carbon dioxide and narrowing of blood vessels. This may cause dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Hypothermia is also possible – cold water quickly removes heat from the body when the body temperature drops below 35 degrees. Hypothermia can cause confusion, drowsiness, and cardiac arrest.
“First aid in cold shock aims to warm the victim and maintain vital functions. In this case, it is necessary to call an ambulance. Remove the person from the water if it is safe for you to do so. Remove wet clothing. Cover the victim with warm clothing as soon as possible. Monitor for signs of cardiac arrest and administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation if necessary,” the therapist added.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.