A piece of advice for first-time plungers: however cold you think it’s going to be, it’s going to be at least twice that cold. So cold you might have to remind yourself to breathe. Literally, your internal dialogue will go: “Inhale.” (NO!!).

But after that first shock, after your nervous system is done yelling at you, it’s lots of fun. Last year, a team of Mt. Lebanon PD officers was among 1,300 people taking the Polar Plunge into the Allegheny River, cashing in on their insanity to raise more than $250,000 for the Pennsylvania Special Olympics.

The event was emceed by Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, and featured plungers in wedding dresses, in kilts, and a team of Super Plungers, who, not content to just take the one dip, dove into the Allegheny every hour for 24 hours before the event.

This year, former Steeler Louis Lipps will handle the mike. Plunge Town, which opens at 9 a.m., four hours before people start jumping in the river, will feature live music, games, and a chili cook-off.

This year’s plunge comes early, December 2, so if you want to donate, or take the plunge yourself, check out
tinyurl.com/bwwmnba for details, or donate to the MLPD team page at tinyurl.com/czwhtcl