Swimwear Safety: Reconsidering the Color of Your Child’s Swimsuit
June 17, 2025
Safety starts before you even leave the house
When packing for a day at the pool or beach, there’s a lot to remember, snacks, sunscreen, towels, and toys. But one simple, often-overlooked choice can significantly impact your child’s safety in the water, the color of their swimsuit.
Why Swimsuit Color Matters
Water safety experts have increasingly emphasized how certain swimsuit colors are more visible than others, and that visibility can make all the difference in a critical moment. Bernard Fisher, director of health and safety for the American Lifeguard Association, explains that bright and contrasting swimsuit colors help lifeguards and supervising adults spot a child quickly, especially in emergencies. On the other hand, light blue, gray, and green swimsuits often blend into the water, making them harder to see.
Coastal lifeguard Wyatt Werneth, another spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association, points out that lifeguards spend a lot of time searching for missing children at beaches and pools. Wearing bright clothing not only helps prevent drowning but also supports quicker identification if a child wanders off. A bright neon swimsuit combined with a recent photo of the child can help lifeguards respond faster and more effectively.
Colors for Better Visibility
A water safety company, Alive Solutions, conducted independent tests on how different swimsuit colors perform in both pools and open water. Their findings were clear: neon orange, yellow, and green were the most visible colors in both pools and lakes. Neon pink performed well in pools but didn’t show up as clearly in lakes. Meanwhile, white and light blue swimsuits often disappeared completely, appearing instead as light reflections or blending with the pool bottom or surface.
These findings are echoed by swim instructor Nikki Scarnati, whose viral video raised awareness on the topic. She demonstrated how light blue swimwear can disappear even in shallow pool water, highlighting the risk it poses if a child ends up underwater.
Understanding All the Layers of Water Safety
While swimsuit color is an important factor, it is only one piece of water safety. Like sunscreen, hats, rash guards, and umbrellas help protect our skin, the same layered approach to water safety applies for your child’s water protection:
- Constant supervision by a responsible adult
- Swim lessons to build water competence
- Barriers like pool fencing to prevent unsupervised access
- CPR training for caregivers
- Life jackets when around open water
Dress for Safety
Dressing your child in a bright swimsuit may seem like a small decision, but it’s a simple step with the potential to make a big difference. Combine this with attentive supervision, swim lessons, and appropriate safety barriers to help ensure a safer swim experience for your child.
*Please note that we rely on independent sources, and recommend conducting further research or to seek guidance from a qualified industry professional, legal counsel, or licensed insurance agent as appropriate for your needs. These blog posts are intended for general informational purposes only.