Water safety experts have reported that the color of a swimsuit can affect a child’s visibility underwater at the pool or beach, impacting their chances of survival.
- The color of a swimsuit “can have a significant impact on its visibility in the water, which is crucial to preventing drowning,” according to water safety experts.
- Bright, neon colors, such as orange, yellow, and green, are most visible in a pool or lake.
- On the other hand, dark or light colors can either go unnoticed or blend into the surroundings.
More than 1,300 drownings were recorded during the summer of 2023. According to data from Public Health Francepublished last May, 361 of these asphyxiations by flooding of the respiratory tract were followed by death. Recently, more precisely this Saturday, June 8, a tragedy of this type occurred near Toulouse. In the village of Lahage near Rieumes (Haute-Garonne), a three-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool and did not survive, according to France Blue.
“Visibility in the water can be increased or decreased depending on the color of the swimsuit”
To avoid this type of accident, you should choose certain colors of swimsuit, according to water safety experts. “The color of swimsuits is not discussed enough when it comes to public safety. However, it can have a significant impact on visibility in the water, which is crucial to preventing drowning,” declared, at CNNBernard Fisher, director of health and safety for the American Lifeguard Association, and Wyatt Werneth, a Florida lifeguard and spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association. “Water is not like looking through air. Even the slightest surface agitation, glare or movement in the water can cause objects and people to become distorted. Visibility in water can be increased or decreased depending on the color of your swimsuit or clothing,” added Natalie Livingston, co-founder and owner of Alive Solutions.
Put a brightly colored swimsuit on your child to prevent drowning
In independent tests, the experts wanted to determine which swimsuit colors make it safe for children to swim. To do this, they placed swimsuits of 14 different colors in swimming pools and lakes and in calm and very choppy water to learn more about their visibility. According to the results, which were not published in a scientific journal, in a pool with a light bottom, neon pink and neon orange seemed to be the most visible. In contrast, darker colors appeared on the light bottom of the pool, but could often go unnoticed due to shadows, leaves or dirt.
As for the white and light blue swimsuits, they were not as visible and even seemed to disappear completely in the water. “Light or blue colors tend to look like glare or cloud reflections and blend in completely with the surroundings.”Natalie Livingston said.
The results observed in a lake were similar. The fluorescent colors (orange, yellow, and green) were the most visible. However, the fluorescent pink was not. White swimsuits showed up more due to the reflective light, but not as much as the bright colors. “Overall, bright colours stand out more clearly on the water, making it easier for lifeguards and parents to spot a child quickly, especially in an emergency. This advice is also effective if children go missing on the beach. Bright colours will help us locate them,” concluded Wyatt Werneth.
