To plunge or not to plunge. That is the question for some as New Year’s Day approaches – and one best posed to a physician. Because, before taking the polar bear plunge into freezing cold water, you should first make sure your heart can handle it.

For others, the question is moot. They wouldn’t take the plunge, period.

Whether the plunge is a New Year’s Day tradition or just plain crazy depends on how you look at it. But, one thing’s for certain, the polar bear plunge is a worldwide phenomenon – and not just for New Year’s.

Wikipedia estimates that 30,000 people brave the Netherland’s New Year’s plunge, known as “Nieuwjaarsduik.” And it happens in Canada and Russia, too. In 2014, Australian researchers in Antarctica even marked the June 22 solstice (winter for them) with a dip in an ice-filled pool.

Why? Some say there are health benefits, such as stress relief, increased energy and rejuvenation. But there can be dangers, too, particularly for people with a family history of stroke, aneurysm, blood pressure problems or hypertension. The cold water causes blood vessels to constrict.

But, they also do it for a good cause. In the U.S., polar bear plunges across the country raise money or collect goods to help others.

Here are a few groups and events that take on the cold for a charitable cause:

• Boston’s L Street Brownies
  Jumping into Boston Harbor on New Year’s Day since the early 1900s, this club raises money for scholarships and youth hockey by selling T-shirts and hot chocolate.
   
• Coney Island Polar Bear Club in New York
  Another club with more than a century of plunging under its belt, this group raises money to send sick children to camp and for the Special Olympics. Can’t make it on New Year’s Day? This club swims in the Atlantic Ocean every Sunday from November through April.
   
• Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club
  As part of their New Year’s Day plunge, members collect winter clothing for children and seniors.
   
• Lakeview Polar Bear Club in Chicago
  Members of this club take an icy dip in Lake Michigan to raise money for needy families.
   
• Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge
  The largest polar bear plunge in the nation, this event – also known as “Plungefest” and “Plungapalooza” – draws more than 10,000 annually and raises money for the Special Olympics at Sandy Point State Park.

Of course, if you’re not up for participating, these and other events happily welcome observers. And we wouldn’t blame you at all if you felt more comfortable on the sidelines.

If you do plan to plunge, be sure to seek your doctor’s advice first.

It’s a wonderful time of the year to be charitable.

Unfortunately, some see the holidays as a wonderful time for scams – taking donation dollars from unsuspecting donors and the charities and people who would otherwise benefit from them. Oftentimes they do so by posing as a charity or a representative from one themselves. All to steal credit card numbers, bank account information and even identities to use for their own good, rather than for the good of others.

So it’s a great time to go over some tips on how to donate to those less fortunate while keeping your personal information secure.

To help ensure your donation is safe for you and meaningful for those in need, here are three important tips:

1. Find out as much as you can about the charity.

In its 2012 Holiday Giving Poll, the American Red Cross found that 46 percent of survey participants consider a friend’s endorsement the most trustworthy source of information about charities. However, you really want to investigate a charity yourself if you’re considering donating to it.

Find out how much of your donation will go to those in need rather than to administrative costs and salaries. You can do some research through the Better Business Bureau or Charity Navigator. Also check the organization’s own website, as well as any news reports you can find.

2. Be careful where you click when donating online.

Only 11 percent of participants in the Holiday Giving Poll consider social media to be a trustworthy source of information about charities. And that's smart. Clicking on a social media link or even a link from an email could lead to a scam and expose you to identity theft.

To donate online, type in the charity’s URL carefully. A typo could take you to an imposter site run by criminals. Also ensure the URL on the donation page begins with “https,” indicating a secure site, rather than “http.”

3. If someone asks for a piece of your life, think twice before giving it.

In an ideal world, you could give without hesitation to people over the phone or at the door claiming to be collecting donations. It feels good be generous, after all. However, you can’t be sure these people represent the organization they say they do. Plus, donating over the phone decreases the amount you give – call center agents have to be paid.

So instead of donating over the phone or at the door, ask the solicitor for information about the charity, such as its website, so you can do some research and donate later, if you like. Don’t be pressured into giving right then in order to enter a drawing or other giveaway.

With a little research and caution, donating this holiday season will benefit those in need and help keep you safe at the same time.

Happy giving, and happy holidays!