When your young people get home from school this afternoon please speak to them and warn them of the dangers of frozen lakes / water. it could be a conversation that saves their life. Our deepest sympathy to all of the families and friends of the three young children who have sadly lost their lives.
In addition if you have signed up to a winter charity challenge without any previous open / cold water swimming experience please find a venue with qualified water safety personnel that can offer the correct advice and ensure your dip is safe and monitored, even better wait until the spring when the water has warmed up, experienced winter swimmers are being caught out by the sudden cold snap and low temperatures at the moment and when it goes wrong it goes wrong very quickly so please stay safe.