Keep the kids out of white, light blue or dark colored swimsuits! Experts warn there’s one safety factor parents need to remember when picking out a kids swimsuit: the color. Sure, your son or daughter might want one with unicorns or Bluey on it, but a visibility test has proven that some colors are much easier to spot underwater, while others are basically invisible. That’s why the right shade could help save a child from drowning.
According to the World Health Organization, drowning is one of the top causes of death for young people, with kids under five at the highest risk. So it’s especially important to know how the color of the bathing suit can be seen in the water. Lifeguards say that the right color can make a life-or-death difference, but what is the best one for visibility?
A study by ALIVE Solutions Inc, a company specializing in aquatic safety, tested different swimsuit shades in both pools and open water.
- They looked at how the colors look on the surface of the water, and underwater, and checked from different perspectives, to simulate the view from a boat or dock.
- White and light blue suits practically disappear in the water, while dark colors show up on a light pool bottom, but can look like a shadow or pile of leaves.
- ALIVE Solutions reports that their top choices are neon pink and neon orange, which can be seen most easily in all conditions tested.
- The top colors for visibility in a lake are bright ones including neon yellow, neon green and neon orange.
- Lifeguards also love bright colors, as they make kids easier to keep track of in the water.