This one tip could save your child from drowning

While shopping for a kid’s swimsuit, you’re probably most focused on finding a size that fits and a style they like—but there is a much more important detail you may not be giving enough attention to: the color of your child's bathing suit.

Bathing suit colors may be more important than you realize as they factor significantly into water safety. The underwater visibility of a swimsuit, and whether or not it can be immediately seen if your child goes underwater could save their life.

Alive Solutions, a company that specializes in aquatic safety, training, and risk assessment, tested 14 swimsuits in varying colors first in a pool and then in a lake and the results of the test may shock you.

Most swimsuit colors virtually disappear or are not identifiable as a struggling child is only a mere 18 inches below the surface of the water. Visibility continues to decrease exponentially with any sort of water agitation, like in a moderately-active swimming pool or water park, or in a lake or ocean with any amount of wave activity.

They found certain colors can mean the difference of being able to immediately find your child should they disappear under the surface and, as we know, where potential drownings are concerned those seconds saved could save a life.

The tests

For each test, Alive Solutions placed each swimsuit color on the surface of the water. They then submerged the suits and agitated the water, allowing the suits to sink about 18 inches deep—a depth where visibility is crucial for life-saving during water accidents.

Alive Solutions then took photos at two additional levels—shore level and then slightly elevated, about dock or boat level—to simulate heights lifeguards or caregivers might be at when searching for a child in the water. The degree to which a swimsuit becomes difficult, if not impossible, to spot varied widely based on its color. Popular swimsuit colors, like blues and greens, almost completely disappeared.

Which colors work best for open water and pools

Bright is best

In open water, bright, neon colors, including orange, yellow, and lime green, fared best. Pools were a bit more forgiving overall, but it was pointed out by the testers that “although the darker colors show up on a light pool bottom they can often be dismissed for a pile of leaves, dirt, or a shadow so I tend to stay away from those colors when possible.”

As for open water, white suits were also cautioned against, as they appeared to be patches of cloud reflections.

Contrast is key

The post recommended that, no matter where you plan to swim, opt for bright and contrasting suit colors. Just like a brightly colored outfit can help you find your child in a crowd, Alive Solutions found that bright visibility was crucial to identifying a child in a body of water.

When possible, look for large chunks of color blocks or pair contrasting colors with different colored rash guards and swimsuit bottoms and trunks. For example, look for a bright orange rash guard and pair it with hot pink or day-glo yellow bottoms.

Environmental factors matter

The findings also note that it’s important to consider other environmental factors that may impact visibility when packing up for a day of water play. Water clarity, lighting, currents, and the weather can all affect below-surface visibility.

While bright neon colors were the best options overall, it’s interesting to note that some colors, like neon pink, were highly visible in a pool setting but nearly disappeared when tested in a lake. What that means is it’s important to select a suit that provides high visibility in the type of water you plan to visit.

According to the post, “This test also reinforced how important it is in lakes, beaches, rivers, [and] open water environments to keep people on the surface (with life jackets).”

Why this test matters

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related accidental deaths in children ages 1 to 4: It’s quick, it’s quiet, and it can happen to anyone—even strong swimmers. The majority of drownings and near drownings occur in residential swimming pools and in open water sites.

But while proper dress will help improve your ability to spot a child in distress, Alive Solutions did caution that shouldn’t be the only water safety measure you take. With child drownings linked to caregiver’s distractions, including the use of cell phones, it’s important to know that brightly colored clothes can’t replace a lack of vigilance with supervision.

The group states: “Remember…the bright and contrasting colors help visibility, but it doesn’t matter what color your kids are wearing if you aren’t supervising effectively and actively watching.”

Tips for keeping kids safe in the water

Here are some expert tips for upping your kids' safety during water play.

Be close and free from distractions

This goes without saying, but while parents may feel as though they are watching their children, sometimes they aren't watching as closely as they could. Kristi Ladowski, injury prevention and outreach coordinator at Stony Brook Medicine Trauma Center, says that most water-related injuries she sees at her E.R. are when adults were distracted or thought someone else was watching the child.

Supervising adults should be close, constant, and free from distractions. It’s recommended to have a designated “watcher” at all times. That watcher should be free from conversations and any other distractions.

Keep small children within arm's reach

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends "touch supervision" for beginning swimmers, meaning the adult should be within an arm's reach of the child so he or she can pull the child out of the water if the child's head becomes submerged.

Invest in swim lessons

While even the strongest swimmers aren’t safe from accidents, teaching your kids how to swim and how to behave safely around water is key to preventing drowning. Kids can start swimming lessons as early as 1-year-old and self-rescue techniques, as well as basic swimming skills, should be reinforced annually.

Swimsuits to help keep kids safe

Here are some kids’ swimsuits that hit all the right marks for swim safety.

1. A cool rash guard with a fun graphic

Kids will love the cool shark graphic on this rash guard. Parents will love the eye-catching, Alive Solutions-approved florescent orange color it comes in. This long-sleeved Lands' End rash guard also comes armed with UPF 50, so it offers protection against the sun and the surf.

$11 at Lands' End

2. Quick-drying shorts in a swim-safe color

These unisex, gender-neutral kids' swim trunks are not only quick-drying, but they also come in florescent green, neon orange, and bright red—giving lots of options for colors that are highly visible in all conditions. They also are feather light and dry faster than you can say, "cannonball!"

$12 at Amazon

3. A cheerful rash guard with flower power

This bright rash guard not only has some serious flower power, but it also ups the safety quotient in any kids' swim attire. It's perfect when paired with neon orange, yellow, or green swim bottoms.

$21 at Amazon

4. A 3-piece set that's ready for pairing

This coral pink 3-piece set is easy to mix and match with other swim wear, and features UPF 50+ protection. Reviewers say the color is much brighter than pictured, meaning it will stand out well in the water.

$65 at The Gap

5. A criss-cross bikini that's an eye catching pink

This bright fuchsia criss-cross Shein girls' bikini is just the shade that Alive Solutions recommends for safety. We recommend mixing and matching and pairing the piecing with some neon bottoms or a different rash guard in a contrasting shade.

$10 at Shein

6. A neon rash guard

Protect against the sun and up their aquatic safety with one of these brightly colored orange or neon yellow rash guards with UPF 50.

From $11 at Amazon

7. Some contrasting swim trunks

Alive Solutions recommends dressing kids in contrasting colors. These kids' swim trunks would go great in a complimenting shade with a brightly colored rash guard. We recommend you buy the Alive Solutions-approved neon yellow.

From $10 at Lands' End

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.