Allow me to confess something: there were many years as a mom where the level of thought I put into my kids’ swimsuit choices was: “Let’s see what’s in the hand-me-down bag from cousins that might fit.” I rarely thought more about my kiddos’ swimsuits than that. Would it stay on? Great. Did it cover them well? Super. That was pretty much it.
Now, I know that when it comes to swimming safety, swimsuit color is actually a huge factor! Once I learned that, I at least started buying my kids neon-colored rash guards to go with those hand-me-down swimsuits to make them more visible in the pool. Veteran lifeguard Wyatt Werneth, a public spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association, recently went on the TODAY show to spread the word about the safest swimsuit colors for your kiddos best pool visibility, and just as important, what colors to avoid.
“Never wear a blue swimsuit — bright colors are always best,” he says. “Putting your kids in a bright color would help us identify in a crowd. Blue blends in with the water, making them harder to see.”
Why Swimsuit Color Matters
In hindsight, this seems like a “DUH” kind of tip, but I never thought about it until I read an article like this one. And then I took action, because if my kid is in swimming trouble in a crowded pool, I surely want the lifeguard to be able to spot them without even trying. Am I right, Parents?
A 2021 test by swim safety company ALIVE Solutions, Inc. backs up Werneth’s advice.
“Our bottom two colors are white and light blue (check out how they disappear) and our top choices would be neon pink and neon orange,” the company said when posting about the results of their swimsuit color tests in a pool.
The company went on to say that though dark colors tested well for visibility, they could be mistaken for leaves or shadows at the bottom of the pool, and that neon colors were by far the most visible when thinking about seeing a person in distress.
More Than Just Swimsuit Color
Though swimsuit color choice is an important safety step, Werneth also wants parents to take a few other safety principles into account.
One that’s especially important he says, is always have a lifeguard on duty when hosting a pool party. “Or, don’t host a pool party without a ‘lifeguard plan,” he said. “Assign ‘water watchers’ and don’t have parents drinking or on their phones. Just like a designated driver, somebody needs to be designated to watch the pool. Additionally, make sure someone on site has CPR skills if an accident does occur.”
Additionally, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 years old.
Another important tip if you do have a lifeguard either at home or in a public pool is to never treat a lifeguard as a babysitter. “If your kids are in the pool, go in the pool,” he said. “Your job is watching water. The other staff is looking for kids. We have to have all hands on deck. (And) don’t ever leave your kids in the pool while you run to the bathroom or get food.”
I know summer is in full swing, but I hope you will take these swimming safety tips to heart. I fully believe Werneth’s advice is life-saving and having a safety plan will truly go a long way to bringing about and safe and fun summer.
