There has never been such an event before! Dozens of daredevils, students and employees of SUM, led by Dr. Michal Starosolski, the most experienced SUM walrus, entered the water in the Three Ponds Valley in Katowice to inaugurate the university's 75th birthday in this way. The action took place on January 28, 2023.
The event was not only a great opportunity to have fun together and test oneself as a "walrus", but also to expand knowledge of, among other things, safe walruses. Before the "summation" lectures were held at the Center for Medical Didactics and Simulation in Katowice - Ligota. Jarosław Zwierzyna from the Municipal Branch of the WOPR in Katowice spoke on the safety of moving on the ice, Dr. n. on health Michał Kucap from the Provincial Ambulance Service in Katowice gave a lecture on hypothermia, while Captain Tomasz Kos from the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Bytom presented rescue techniques on the ice. - Walrushing is an increasingly popular sport, but of course it requires preparation. I'm proud of our students who took up the challenge," said Prof. Dr. Jerzy Stojko, vice-rector for studies and students, who cheered on the event, but didn't rule out trying to walrus himself someday.
Of the students, many tried the ice bath for the first time in their lives: - It was hard at first, but as time went on I felt better and better. I will definitely try it again," assessed SUM student Rafal Smolak.
The bathing of our "walruses" lasted from 3 to 5 minutes (although the athletes stayed in the water a little longer) - When we start walruses for the first time, even one dip in the water is enough. Of course, it should be done gradually and slowly, but firmly - so as not to spend too much time in the water. If you enter the cold water quickly, you can suffer hypothermia (hypothermia) or risk frostbite. The most pleasant temperature for swimming is below -8 degrees Celsius (air temperature). If the weather is sunny and windless during walruses, you may even get the impression that the water is warm. Before the swim itself, as before any workout, one must be rested, nourished and hydrated, and must not use any stimulants such as cigarettes or alcohol. A drink with percentages further cools the body, lowers blood pressure and can cause cramps that prevent movement in the water, Dr. Starosolski explained.
"Walrus" is a colloquial term for a person who bathes in cold water, usually during the fall and winter months. Walrus bathing is now being compared to cryotherapy, which is commonly used to treat certain conditions. - When immersed in cold water, the surface blood vessels contract. Blood reaches deeper and improves circulation in the internal organs and tissues within our body. This results in a number of positive health benefits, i.e. better regulation and longer-lasting heat production; reduced symptoms of, for example, asthma or rheumatic conditions; better overall well-being," explained Dr. Starosolski, who added: - Available research indicates that the best results are achieved by people who regularly walrus, because the body then adjusts its metabolism. Only then can we talk about the preventive effect of walruses on various diseases. For those who walrus occasionally, cold water can be very dangerous.
After the walruses, the students were able to enjoy warm tea and eat some sweets in an insulated tent. We assure you that this was not the last SUM walruses.
