440

Number of Polar Plunge participants in 2013.

250 to 500

Typical number of spectators.

1

Ambulance on hand (plus a fire department dive team) for emergencies.

60%, 40%

Gender breakdown of Plungers, by men and women, respectively.

71

Age difference years between the youngest-ever Plunger (age 6) and the oldest-ever (age 77).

30

Typical time, in seconds, that Plungers spend in the water.

34°

Average temperature of Lake Michigan in January.

26°

Average temperature in Chicago on January 25.

20°

Current forecast for the temperature at noon on Saturday. Winds are expected to blow at around 24 mph.

1

Time, in minutes, that club cofounder Brian Marchal intends to spend in the water. (“I’ve always felt that was a truly respectable time frame.”)

3 minutes

Time one can be in freezing water before cold shock (blood pressure spike and possible cardiac arrest) sets in, according to the America Outdoors Association.

$40

What it costs a Plunger to register on the beach day-of. (It's only $30 if you pre-register today.) Go for it!