These are the swimsuit colors you should buy to keep your family safe

• The color of a swimsuit can significantly impact visibility in water during an emergency.
• Neon colors are the most visible in pools and natural bodies of water.
• Some can disappear or be hard to see underwater.
• Brightly colored swimwear can aid in quicker detection but does not replace adult supervision.

The color of the swimsuit you choose could save your life or that of a loved one.

Sure, any color suit may look cute hanging on a rack at the store, but some colors — including blues, grays and greens — can essentially disappear underwater, especially if you’re in a lake or ocean. Conversely, a high-visibility, neon-colored suit will stand out underwater in an emergency, leading to quicker detection and a potential rescue.

Brightly colored suits do not replace the need for supervision or flotation aids for children, but they can have an impact when every second counts. Regardless of the color they’re wearing, always keep an eye on children when they are in and around water, and avoid distractions such as cell phones.

When shopping for swimwear this year, go bright and bold.

Watch this video to see what different colored swimsuits look like underwater.

Best swimsuit color for visibility

ALIVE Solutions, also on Facebook as Aquatic Safety Connection, tested different colored swimsuits in pools and lakes, and in both calm and agitated waters. 

They tested 14 different colors, including: 

• Red.
• Neon orange.
• Neon yellow.
• Dark green.
• Neon green. 
• Four shades of blue. 
• Neon pink.
• Purple.
• Grey.
• Black.
• White. 

They found neon suits provided the highest contrast at the bottom of a pool and in natural water, such as lakes and oceans.

For pools with a light colored bottom, neon pink and orange were the most visible in calm and agitated waters. For pools with a dark colored bottom, neon yellow, green and orange were the most visible. For lakes, neon yellow, green and orange were the most visible. 

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Swimsuit colors to avoid

Neon orange was a top performer in each of the tests, so opting for a bright neon suit will increase the chances of being seen in an emergency situation.

ALIVE Solutions’ test found that light colors, such as white and light blue, seemingly disappear underwater in a pool with a light bottom. While darker colors remained visible, they could be mistaken for dirt, debris, or shadows underwater.

In darker pools, dark-colored suits disappeared quickly, and some even appeared to change color, making dark green look more navy.

In lake settings, most of the 14 colors tested disappeared quickly in just 18 inches of water.

Water safety

Drowning isn't loud and dramatic with a lot of yelling and thrashing. It's often silent, as the person struggling is using their energy to keep their head above water and breathe, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That makes it incredibly important to recognize the signs of drowning when you're in and around water.

Signs of drowning include:

1. Their body is vertical and the head is tilted back.
2. Their mouth is at water level and/or their head repeatedly falls below the surface.
3. They are making a climbing ladder motion with their limbs but aren't moving forward.
4. They have a panicked expression on their face.
5. If they are unable to speak or yell for help.

If you notice someone drowning, get them out of the water if it is safe to do so.

If you’re not alone, point to a specific person and tell them to call 911. If you are alone, provide two minutes of CPR and rescue breathing before calling 911.

It's important for survivors to get checked out by the hospital, even if the person never lost consciousness.