The Importance of Swimsuit Color for Swim Safety: A Safe Swim Guide for Parents
As temperatures rise and families head to pools, lakes, and beaches to cool off, water safety experts have an important tip about the color of your child's swimsuit. While style and comfort often drive our choices, a new study suggests that the color of your child’s swimsuit could be the most critical factor in keeping them safe.
The Critical Role of Swimsuit Color
The article from Kait Hanson for Today, delves into a fascinating study conducted by ALIVE Solutions Inc., a company specializing in aquatic safety. This study tested various swimsuit colors to determine their visibility in different water environments, including both pools and open water. The findings were eye-opening and underscored the importance of choosing the right swimwear color for children.
Study Findings: Visibility Matters
ALIVE Solutions Inc. conducted a series of tests to see how different colors of swimsuits performed underwater. In pool environments, they found that neon and bright colors like neon pink, neon orange, neon yellow, and neon green were the most visible. These colors stood out significantly against both the clear water and the pool's bottom, even when the water was agitated.
Conversely, lighter colors like white and light blue almost disappeared underwater, blending seamlessly with the water and pool surfaces. Darker colors, although somewhat visible, could easily be mistaken for debris, shadows, or dirt, reducing their effectiveness in ensuring a child's visibility.
The study extended to open water conditions, such as lakes, where visibility can be particularly challenging due to murky water. Even in these conditions, bright colors proved to be the most visible. The testing simulated various perspectives, including surface level, shore level, and an elevated view from a boat or dock. The results consistently showed that neon yellow, neon green, and neon orange were the easiest to spot.
Real-Life Implications
North Carolina mom Casey Ferri is a prime example of how these findings can be applied in real life. She ensures her son Jack wears neon swimsuits to increase his visibility in the water. This simple choice is informed by a sobering statistic from the World Health Organization: drowning is one of the leading causes of death for people aged 1-24 globally, with children under five at the highest risk.
Former lead lifeguard Breanna Smith Powderly, who worked at Hershey Park, reinforces this point. She notes that children in bright, fluorescent colors are much easier to keep track of, even in crowded and busy water parks. This aligns with lifeguard training that emphasizes quick and thorough scanning of their designated zones.
Key Swim Safety Action Points for Parents
Ensuring water safety involves more than just choosing the right swimsuit color. Here are five key swim safety action points for parents to consider:
Choose Bright and Contrasting Swimwear: Opt for neon and bright colors for your children’s swimsuits. These colors are significantly more visible in various water environments, making it easier to spot your child quickly.
Enroll in Swim Lessons: Ensure your children take swimming lessons. Knowing how to swim not only builds confidence but also equips them with essential skills to handle themselves in the water. Swimming lessons can be a crucial preventive measure.
Designate a Water Watcher: Always have a responsible adult assigned as a water watcher. This person should keep an eye on the children at all times, without any distractions like phones or books. The role of a water watcher is to maintain constant vigilance.
Install Self-Locking Pool Gates or Alarms: If you have a pool at home, install self-locking gates or alarms to prevent unsupervised access. These measures can provide an added layer of safety, especially for younger children. Pool alarms can alert you if someone enters the pool area unexpectedly.
Learn CPR: In case of an emergency, knowing CPR can be lifesaving. Ensure that you and any caregivers are trained in CPR and basic first aid. Quick, informed action can make a critical difference in an emergency situation.
Additional Tips for Enhanced Water Safety
Create a Water Safety Plan: Have a clear plan for water safety that includes rules and emergency procedures. Make sure all family members and caregivers are aware of and understand this plan. Regularly review and practice these procedures.
Use Coast Guard-Approved Life Jackets: For non-swimmers or those less confident in the water, use Coast Guard-approved life jackets. These provide additional buoyancy and can help prevent drowning. Ensure that the life jackets fit properly and are in good condition.
Conclusion
By implementing these safety measures, parents can enjoy a fun and safe summer by the water. Remember, the right swimsuit color, coupled with diligent supervision and proper safety precautions, can make all the difference in preventing tragic accidents. Stay safe and have a wonderful time at the pool or beach!
References
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Drowning. Retrieved from WHO website
ALIVE Solutions Inc. (n.d.). Study on Swimsuit Colors and Visibility. Retrieved from ALIVE Solutions website
By staying informed and proactive, we can create safer environments for our children to enjoy the water. Let's make this summer not just fun, but safe and secure for everyone.