The third of three brothers who fell through thin ice behind their suburban home died Monday. The family's pain is unimaginable. If the rest of us can take anything away from this awful tragedy, it's that ice safety is not something to take for granted.

With a thin film of ice just starting to form, it's way too early for people to consider walking onto lakes or ponds. While most adults understand this, it's also imperative that children be told of the rules and the danger. For adventurous kids, many of whom are on Thanksgiving breaks from school this week, a trek out on to the ice can be enticing. As the Department of Natural Resources recommends, parents should take the time to discuss it with their kids -- especially those who live near a body of water, small or large.

Even as the weather grows colder and the ice starts to get thicker, it will still be important to take care before heading out onto the ice.

The DNR recommends four inches of new clear ice as the minimum thickness for travel on foot. Five inches is the minimum for snowmobiles and ATVs, and eight to 12 inches is a good idea for cars or small trucks.

These thicknesses are guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe, the DNR says. That means caution is the best policy.

Not until the lakes have been long frozen should residents, or their children, venture out.