Margaret Hales, American Red Cross Aquatics Specialist. Please swim in designated areas that are marked. Never swim alone. Know your abilities and rest frequently when swimming.

Brian Longren - Aquatics Director at Waukee Family YMCA. This is a great but tricky question! With the recent sunblock studies and debates, the answer is coming closer to a yes. Within the past year, the FDA has moved to ban the labels "waterproof" and "water-resistant" from sunscreen products as they can be misleading to consumers. They are no different than any other sunblock product used when it comes to water protection. When it comes to sun protection, It will be important for the consumer to look at the labeling carefully and pick the product that is "broad spectrum" as it protects both UVA and UVB light. Recommendations would be to reapply sunblock every 40 to 80 minutes depending on the formula and activity.

For further information on how to protect yourself, what to look for when picking the right sunblock, and guidelines set by the FDA; please refer to the following websites:
http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm258416.htm
http://www.melanomafoundation.org/prevention/facts.htm

Margaret Hales, American Red Cross Aquatics Specialist Iowa Region. If you are caught in a current and being swept away, roll over onto your back and go downstream feet first to avoid hitting your head. When you are out of the strongest part of the current, swim straight toward shore. Because of the current, you will actually move downstream at an angle toward the shore. We have a booklet called Water Safety Handbook, which has some great tips, tricks and tools for Water Safety.

Paul Schmidt--Aquatic Director at Walnut Creek YMCA. It would entirely depend on the situation for the appropriate response because there are many variables including what type of water your in(Pool vs Lake/River), How old the victim is(child or adult), How deep the water is(Can you touch the bottom), and what your swimming ability level is.
If you have not been trained in how to properly assist victims and are a poor to mid level swimmer you should definitely not swim out and try to grab the victim. Even an advanced swimmer or a trained individual should still be wary. One thing lifeguards are trained to do is to avoid coming into contact with the victim when possible. It is much safer to perform a rescue by throwing or reaching out with a flotation device of some kind than risking the victim grabbing you and pulling you both down.

The very best way to signal that you are in trouble and need help is simply to yell out "Help!" Scream it as loud as possible in an attempt to attract attention to yourself. Obviously never do this if your not in danger. It is important to stay calm and not panic. If you are alone and out of ear shot from anyone, which you should NEVER be, and something happens like a leg cramp you should roll onto your back and float keeping your mouth out of the water and carefully make your way back to shore.

The best precautions in lakes and rivers include:
1) Never swim alone
2) Stay within the designated public swimming areas
3) Dont swim down deep in water you cant see (Avoid getting stuck, cut, or trapped in a current

I agree with Paul yelling is the best way but there are times where people in need of assitance will not be able to yell and will instictively look to others like the life guards at a pool or someone else standing close by with a paniced look on their face so the guard goes in with the rescue tube they carry with them.

Brian Longren - Aquatics Director at Waukee Family YMCA. There is no preferred age to start diving. However, learning to dive should be done progressively starting with the fundamentals of diving safety; this should include information such as diving postures and knowledge of where it would be acceptable to dive. Once the swimmer has fully understood the rules to diving, then they can start to learn diving from a sit down position followed by the kneeling dive and standing dive. Diving from there can go further with competitive diving (under trained supervision such as coaches). The important key to all of this is the education to diving. This can be found in swim lesson programs offered at any Aquatic Center. You can contact your local aquatic center for information regaurding diving programs and diving education.

Margaret Hales, American Red Cross Aquatics Specialist Iowa Region. There are lots of programs that you can start you child with swimming. There are Parent and Child classes, where you and the child can learn to appreciate the water, and learn lifesaving skills, if the infant falls into the water. You are never too young or too old to learn to swim and start swim lessons.

In addition to what Margaret was saying, there are many programs that are available for toddlers and even infants. While the child will not be able to learn to swim safely on thier own at this age, these programs serve to introduce the child to the open water environment and teach parents fun and safe ways to work with thier children in the water.

The very best way to prepare a child for swimming lessons, when they are old enough to take instructor led classes, is to spend as much time in the water as possible during those early years. Going to open swimming as a family to aquatic facilities helps build up comfort and confidence which is vital in a childs swim development. As an instructor one of the most frustrating things we see is a 4-6 year old who has never been in a pool before and has already built up a fear of the water because of it. Don't forget that swimming isn't just a summer activity. There are many indoor facilities that offer both open swimming and even swim lessons year round!