Polar Bear has returned and with it, a much needed break to drink the day away!

A full day of relaxation is what many students may want by now. Here’s the DE’s guide on how to survive the day.

Drink water and eat lots of solids

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For those that plan to drink, staying hydrated is something that will keep you afloat during the unsanctioned drinking event. Try and take breaks between the beers with a glass of water.

Dehydration can lead to weakness in muscles, headaches and a dry mouth.

Some severe dehydration symptoms include a lack of sweating, sunken eyes, shriveled and dry skin, increased heart rate, fever, and even unconsciousness.

If you experience any of these symptoms it’s recommend you begin to only drink water and consider a trip to the hospital or at least, a bed.

Having food in your stomach also helps absorb alcohol in your stomach.

We’re not just talking about eating a cheese stick before going out. The polar bear participant should eat an actual meal before she or he stumbles on dirty dale’s streets.

Events going on in Carbondale

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Every year for Polar Bear, many local restaurants and bars cash in on the partying on this weekend. Here are some local businesses throwing parties on Polar Bear.

Revolution Brewing will be coming down from Chicago to throw a Tap Party at PK’s from 8-2pm.

The event states, “Gwen will be serving her famous breakfast menu and we will have 50¢ PBR drafts all day. That’s right. 50¢ PBR DRAFTS.”

Anti-Hero, Deth’s Tar, A Little Crazy, and Cross of Gold will be the beers served on the beer list.

Gianni Blu, a DJ from Chicago recently supported by Hardwell and Martin Garrix will be throwing a Polar Bear Bash at Hangar 9.

The party will begin at 9 p.m. with Yemish & Easy Heavy starting things off. After 10pm there will be a $5 cover.

Wedding Banned, a 80’s and 90’s cover band will be playing at Pinch Penny Pub from 10-1pm.

The band was banned from their hometown of Gas City, Indiana for “being too wild,” according to its band website.

“The party starts with a random couple getting married on stage,” according to their website description.

Last year’s citations and injuries

Last year, the amount of violations of alcohol-related citations and injuries actually went down.

According to a article an DE wrote after 2017’s Polar Bear, “Carbondale and Illinois State police on Saturday issued a total of 91 citations to 89 people, the majority of which were alcohol related, according to a news release. The number of citations decreased from 116 issued during the event in January 2016, a drop of 27 percent.”

Forty-nine of the citations issues were for underage drinking or  the possession of alcohol, according to the article. Additional 35 citations were for drinking in public.

Other recorded incidents were physical battery, excessive noise, and leaving a bar with alcohol.

The Memorial Hospital of Carbondale treated 10 patients for emergency care during a 24-hour period that began at 8 a.m. Saturday last year.

Stay safe for this year’s Polar Bear, in it’s enrollment crisis the university needs all of its students.

Staff writer Kitt Fresa can be reached at [email protected]. 

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