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DIP for Dementia
Time To Take The Plunge!
Looking for a New Year Challenge?
Between 1st - 8th February, we're encouraging people who are healthy and able to take a sponsored cold-water dip in aid of Sage House. Money raised from the event will go towards providing a wide range of dementia services and support for people living with dementia and their loved ones.
The Dip for Dementia challenge can include:
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A dip in the sea, from paddling to total immersion
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Cold water bath
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Cold shower
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Dip in a cold swimming pool or ‘hot’ tub
Cold water therapy is widely praised for the benefits it can bring to our mental health when it is used in the correct way.
All safety considerations should be taken into account before taking part in the Dip For Dementia. Therefore, we would urge everyone to read through and agree to our safety dos and don’ts before taking the plunge.
Where do I start?
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To get started, choose your challenge and when you're going to do it. You can set your own version of the Dip For Dementia challenge, depending on what you feel would be demanding, but without putting yourself at risk.
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Read our Dos & Don'ts, Top Tips and Terms & Conditions below.
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Now you can set up your JustGiving Page. This makes it easy for your friends and family to sponsor your dip and raise money for people living with dementia in West Sussex. To create your page, click here and follow the steps - make sure to select Dementia Support as your chosen charity! If you get stuck, here is a tutorial on how to set up a page, or call our fundraising team on 01243 958460 and we will help you.
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Share your JustGiving page and get sponsored.
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Share your dip on social media using the hashtag #DipforDementia, and nominate a friend to take on the challenge too. Make sure you tag us in your posts so we can celebrate your achievement with you!
Safety Guidelines - Dos and Don'ts
At Sage House we take the safety of our customers and supporters extremely seriously. Therefore, we would ask that anyone who takes part in the Dip for Dementia reads the following safety dos and don’ts before they undertake this challenge.
Once you have read the points below and agreed to follow the guidelines, tick the Terms and Conditions box below to let us know that you will be following these best practices when you take on the challenge.
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Don’t go for a dip on your own
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Don’t go at high tide or when the sea is rough
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Don’t dip at night
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Don’t go above your waist
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Don’t dip if you have underlying heart conditions
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Don't push yourself to be in too deep or too long
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Don't take part if you have any health issues or concerns without seeking medical advice first
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Do wear a hat and neoprene gloves and socks
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Do breath work – calmly and slowly
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Do have a robe, towel and easy to put on clothes ready when you get out the water
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Do check the tides before you dip
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Do dip with a companion or friends
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Do have a hot drink after your dip
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Do have fun!
Staying Safe During Your Dip
The increased levels of dopamine and serotonin can leave you feeling on top of the world, once you’ve taken the plunge, but it’s vital to make sure that you take into account all safety precautions before you do so. Cold water therapy can be quite dangerous if not used properly and in some cases can cause people to go into cold water shock, develop a heart rhythm disorder or hypothermia. For people with health issues, or conditions such as asthma, these situations can become life threatening. You can follow our safety guidelines for more details on how to stay safe when planning cold-water immersion. Safety tips when immersing yourself in cold water include never doing a cold-water plunge on your own or at night and not pushing yourself to be in too deep or for too long. If you would like to take on the Dip for Dementia challenge in aid of Sage House, then we are asking everyone to agree to follow our safety guidelines first. Once you have done this, just set up your own Just Giving page, link it to our event and away you go! All money raised will go towards provision of the wide range of dementia support services which are available at Sage House. For further information, get in touch with a member of our fundraising team today.
* Please note that the Dip for Dementia is a challenge intended only for people who are fit and healthy enough to take part safely. If you’re in any doubt, please consult a medical professional first.
Top Tips for Your Cold Water Challenge
Warm up
If you hit the water when you are already warm the experience is going to be a whole lot more enjoyable. Have a bit of a trot around the beach or jump up and down for 10 minutes before your swim and you’ll not only generate heat, but you will also better prepare your body to deal with the shock of the cold water.
Get your kit together
After your dip have your towel/dryrobe and clothes ready! No zips or buttons to fiddle with. Have loose clothes, top and trousers which are easy to put on like a tracksuit or lounge wear. Have a flask of hot tea of chocolate ready for when you get out.
Suit up – what to wear
Wearing a Neoprene headband or Swim Cap works wonders or simply a woolly hat. Neoprene gloves and socks are recommended and even wear a wetsuit and skins if you want to cover up more.
Get in the right head space
Think “warm thoughts”! Focus on how great you’ll feel when you get over the initial cold water shock and have achieved your challenge.
Getting in – take your time but keep it moving
Only go as far as you want – up to your knees – up to your waist – dunk under – and you do not need to set yourself a time, do as much as you can.
Getting out
When you are ready, slowly get up and out. Slip into your dryrobe or wrap yourself in a large towel and begin getting changed right now!
Warm up after your dip
The colder the water and the longer you have been in, the more you will experience an after-drop of your core temperature.
Once you have your clothes on, now is a good time to get some warm drink and food down you. Fuel the inner fire. Eating and drinking are great ways to generate heat.
Use ready warmed hot water bottles. Keep it wrapped in your clothes, so they are super warm when you put them on.
During your post dip recovery, it is tempting to hunch up and shiver. If you keep moving, open your chest up and breathe calmly and deeply, you will recover much quicker.
It is tempting to rush off and jump into the nearest hot shower or bath. This is NOT a good idea and leads to a too quick drop in blood pressure due to the vasodilation caused by the heat. Allow your body to warm up naturally using the tips discussed above.
Terms and Conditions
Before you take the plunge, please take the time to read our safety guidelines and fill in your details below.
10 Benefits of Cold-Water Immersion
Dip for Dementia will run throughout the first week of February and participants can nominate friends or family to do the same, once they have completed their challenge. But, if you haven’t heard of it before, you might be wondering, why did we choose a cold-water challenge in the first place?
In recent years, the concept of cold-water immersion has grown in popularity and increasing numbers of people of all ages are taking the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits that it can bring. Cold-water immersion can be experienced in several different ways, including taking a daily cold shower, cold weather sea swimming, or using a cold tub or cold bath. Athletes have been using cold-water immersion for years as a way of helping the body to recover quicker following extreme exercise. And there are also many reasons why the average person might choose to do the same. It’s thought that, in a similar way to taking regular exercise, cold water therapy can benefit your health. This is because the body is put under stress which encourages it to react in a robust way, boosting your immune system and helping you to feel stronger and fight off illness better. Other benefits which are believed to come from cold water immersion include the following: •Alleviation of depression and anxiety •Improved focus and alertness •Reduction of pain and inflammation •Improve mood and feeling of wellbeing •Increased metabolism and lowered cholesterol •Protection of brain function •Improved physical performance •Reduced muscle stiffness •Help to cool down after exercise