Who is the Great Lake Jumper? Meet the Man Jumping Into Lake Michigan in Frigid January Temps
Monday's temperatures are far from the coldest O'Conor has jumped in. Notable, in December, he was seen jumping into Lake Michigan during the below-zero temperatures, with wind chills as low as -25 degrees.National Weather Service"Plunging into cold water of any temperature becomes dangerous if you aren’t prepared for what the sudden exposure can do to your body and brain," the NWS states, adding that"cold water drains body heat up to four times faster than cold air.
"When your body hits cold water, 'cold shock' can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure," the NWS continued."The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone creates a greater risk of drowning even for confident swimmers in calm waters. In rougher open water this danger increases. Unplanned immersion in cold water can be life-threatening for anyone without protection from the temperatures or a lifejacket to help you stay afloat.
Experts say those who do plan on jumping into such frigid waters should prepare themselves for such reactions.Always dress for water temperature, not for air temperature. Some examples are: