As spring approaches, so do beach and pool days and believe it or not, the swimsuit your child wears can potentially save their life, here is why.
It’s tempting to let your kid choose their swimming costume before they go on holiday but maybe this summer you should get involved in that decision. Swimming, although healthy and great fun, can be extremely dangerous, especially in the sea and being able to see your child in the water is essential.
There are certain colours which can blend into the water, like pale and dark blue, beige or pastels, and others which certainly stand out such as bright pink, red and loud patterns.
Here is a guide of what colours to avoid and what colours could potentially save your child’s life in an emergency.
Safe Colours:
- Neons: neon yellow, green, orange, fluorescent pink…
- Contrasting patterns: polka dots, stripes, tropical prints, pictures with colour combinations like yellow+pink, orange+ bright blue, purple+pink.
- There are even swimwear with glow in the dark or reflective items especially good for evenings.
Unsafe colours:
- Dark shades; brown, black, navy blue.. These can blend into the water, especially the ocean.
- Earthy tones; beige or muted greens. These camouflage against rocks and seaweed.
- Pastels; pastel pink, lilac, blue reflect the sky and make it harder to spot your kid from a distance.
- Small subtle patterns, like tiny flowers on pale bases, also blend into the water.
Floating devices, like armbands can also help your child be safe and seen, as well as t-shirts which also work as sun protection.
Overall, the water is to have fun but some precautions must be put in place. We chat about this topic on our latest programme.
