January 19 is one of the most significant Orthodox holidays – Epiphany. According to forecasts, on Epiphany night more than thirty thousand Nizhny Novgorod residents will rush to the Jordan (this is the name of the ice-hole for swimming). Does this ritual pose health risks?
Someone plunges into icy water to wash away sins from themselves, someone – with the hope of healing, and someone just for the sake of curiosity. But no matter with what thoughts a person decides on an extreme dive, you need to take care of safety so as not to harm yourself and not cause trouble to others.
Firstly, you need to plunge only in specially equipped places. In Nizhny Novgorod and the region, for the Epiphany night, bathing places will be prepared in each district of the city (their list is below). Each of the Jordan will be examined by divers to rule out possible injuries to bathers. Rospotrebnadzor employees will check the water for safety, for which they will conduct laboratory tests of the selected samples.
Each “legal” ice-hole will have heating modules where you can warm up and drink a mug of hot tea. In addition, the teams of the Disaster Medicine Center will be on duty here, which, if necessary, will provide qualified medical assistance.
Secondly, if you are plagued by vague doubts about whether to plunge into the hole or not, you can carry out the bathing procedure at home in a bathtub or shower, in water at a comfortable temperature. After all, according to legend, on this night the water in all springs (and even from the tap!) Is considered consecrated.
But if you decide that on a frosty Epiphany night you definitely need to plunge into Jordan, listen to the doctor’s advice so that this dive does not turn into serious troubles.
Word to the doctor
“Swimming in ice water is a great stress for the body,” says therapist Tatyana Aleksandrova. – Some groups of people should not expose themselves to such stress. Who exactly?
- Children, since their thermoregulation system is still imperfect, and babies get hypothermia faster than adults;
- Those who are currently suffering from colds. Cold water can provoke the development of complications (sinusitis, pneumonia, etc.);
- People with chronic pathology of the cardiovascular system. Because of a sharp vasospasm, they have an increased risk of vascular catastrophes (heart attacks, strokes);
- For those who suffer from epilepsy: a sharp drop in temperature can provoke an attack;
- People with inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system;
- Those who suffer from skin diseases;
- People diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, as hormonal imbalance occurs in the body in stressful situations.
Those who have no contraindications should prepare themselves for diving by hardening, as well as follow the rules for diving and getting out of cold water. After bathing, you must:
- wipe dry;
- wear warm clothes;
- drink a warm non-alcoholic (!) drink;
- to get home by warm transport ”.
Sanctioned and equipped places for Epiphany bathing in Nizhny Novgorod:
– Rowing canal (Nizhny Novgorod region)
– The second lake of the Shelokovsky farm (Prioksky district)
– Meshcherskoye and Sortirovochnoye lakes (Kanavinsky district)
– Silicate lake (Leninsky district)
– Lake of the Central Park of Culture and Rest (Avtozavodsky District)
– Lake near the stadium “Trud” (Sormovsky district)
Attention! Epiphany bathing takes place after the evening service on January 18 and on the night of January 18-19. Access to the Jordan is open on January 19 all day.
Ksenia Kupriyanova, Yaroslava Rybkina