(CNN) — The color of your child’s swimsuit could impact their safety at a swimming pool or the beach. That’s according to water safety experts who have taken a close look at how the hue of swimwear may influence how visible a child is under water. “A child’s swimsuit color can significantly impact their visibility in the water, which is crucial in preventing drownings.
Bright and contrasting colors stand out more clearly against the water, making it easier for lifeguards and parents to spot a child quickly, especially in an emergency situation,” Bernard Fisher, director of health and safety for the American Lifeguard Association, said in an email. “People should avoid swimsuits in light blue, gray, or green as they can blend with the water and pool surroundings, making it difficult to spot a child. We recommend bright and contrasting colors such as neon yellow, orange, pink, and bright red,” Fisher added.
“These colors are highly visible both underwater and on the surface. Swimsuit colors are not talked about enough in public safety, said Wyatt Werneth, a coastal lifeguard in Florida and spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association. “The bright clothes are something that we’ve identified as being a game-changer.
If you have the same colors of the water or the environment, you’re going to blend in,” Werneth said while patrolling Cocoa Beach. “We consider this also with missing children. Not only the fact that the bright colors are going to he.
