Visual safety in the water: How does the color of your swimsuit affect your safety in the pool?
When it comes to pool safety, we often think of factors such as lifeguards, signs and depth markers. However, one aspect that may not immediately come to mind is the color of the swimsuit. Believe it or not, the color of your swimsuit can play a role in your safety while swimming. Let’s find out why swimsuit color is important and how it can affect your child’s safety in the pool.
Photo: Royallifesavingwa. Do you see the swimming baby in the photo?
The picture above demonstrates the importance of swimsuit color and why it’s best to choose brighter colors, especially for children. At first glance the image appears to be an empty swimming pool but there is actually a child swimming in the water. This terrifying image shows how easily a child can disappear from view in a certain situation if not wearing the right colored swimsuit. The child is wearing light blue shorts and is virtually invisible if you don’t know he’s there.
The importance of wearing colorful swimsuits when entering the pool:
Photo: Plympton Fire department
Visibility is key when it comes to pool safety. Swimsuits in bright colors, such as neon green, orange and pink, are easier to spot in the water, especially in crowded pools. This visibility makes it easier for lifeguards to monitor swimmers and respond quickly in an emergency. When you wear a brightly colored swimsuit, you are more likely to stand out from the water, making it easier for others to see you.
- Neon colors: Vibrant neon shades, including neon yellow, orange and green, are highly visible in pool environments. These colors stand out clearly above the water, making it easier for lifeguards and swimmers to spot people wearing them.
- Red: Red is a bold color that contrasts well with the typical blue color of pool water. It can greatly improve visibility, especially in crowded or deeper pool areas.
Choosing dark colored swimsuits can endanger visibility in the pool:
Conversely, dark-colored swimsuits can blend into the water, making it harder for lifeguards and other swimmers to see you. In low light conditions or murky water, or when there is a lot of activity in the pool, this lack of visibility can be even more pronounced, increasing the risk of collision or accident. Additionally, dark colors absorb more sunlight, potentially making the wearer feel hotter and more uncomfortable under the sun’s rays.
Some colors are known to be less visible in pool environments, potentially posing safety risks to swimmers. Include:
- Dark colors: Dark colors such as black, dark blue and brown can be difficult to detect in the pool, especially in deeper or dimly lit areas. These colors can bleed into the water, making it difficult for lifeguards and other swimmers to quickly identify people wearing them.
- Light blue: While light blue is a popular swimsuit color, it can also be less prominent in a pool setting, especially in similarly colored water. In some lighting conditions, light blue swimsuits may not stand out effectively, affecting visibility.
- White: Remember that pool liner is usually a light blue color and when water splashes or the water moves vigorously, the white color can easily blend in.
Therefore, when choosing swimwear, consumers need to consider not only aesthetic factors but also safety issues.
However, equipping your child with a swimsuit with easily detectable colors cannot replace the important role of supervision by parents and those around them.
- Close observation and monitoring when taking children swimming is extremely necessary and cannot be neglected.
- Some children may get lost or separated from their families when swimming in public places. This can cause serious consequences if not detected and treated promptly. Therefore, parents need to always keep their children within sight and at the same time teach them self-protection skills in the water environment.
- Parents should sign up for a course (if they don’t know yet) on how to prevent and provide first aid for drowning, CPR – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation before taking children swimming.
