Parents urged to check children's swimwear ahead of holiday following worrying study
Parents all over the country are currently counting down the days until their children finish school for the most eagerly-awaited - and thankfully, longest - holiday of the year: the summer.
Hotels are booked, kids club spots are reserved, arm bands and lilos have been purchased and passports are all up to date.
All that's left is for teachers to bid their young ones adieu for six whole weeks, and mum and dad's summer vacation can commence.
This week, however - ahead of millions of families taking to the airport - experts are warning parents to double check the condition of their kids' swimming pool attire.
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The worrisome news comes after a study determined that the most popular colour of swimwear for children under the age of 18 - in both boys and girls - is blue.
That's right - according to new statistics, two-thirds (66%) of children opt to wear blue, white or grey swimming costumes every summer.
And whilst you may not think there's anything wrong with your daughter sunbathing in a turquoise cozy, or your son snorkelling a navy pair of trunks, as we say, this choice of colour can actually pose a pretty high risk to their wellbeing.
'But how?', I hear you ask.
Well, apparently children that select this colour scheme are inadvertently putting themselves at risk of unnecessary harm, due to the fact that they often cannot be seen whilst underwater.
This makes it difficult, therefore, for parents, lifeguards and onlookers to notice if they're in danger in some way.
The new study also found that 90 percent of parents had no idea that certain swimwear colours are not visible underwater, with many left horrified after making the chilling realisation, while the same figure believed that there should be more awareness on the subject.
"It can be much harder to see swimwear in blue, white and grey due to how water interacts differently with certain wavelengths of light, how we perceive colour at depth when submersed, lack of light reflection and how colour blends when underwater," colour expert Lee Chambers explained this week.
"The lack of contrast, disruption of outline and camouflage effect can all play a role in making swimwear in these colours difficult to discern, lack visibility and go unnoticed, a potential safety risk in comparison to colours that reflect light and have a sharper contrast."
One individual that is well in the know when it comes to this issue, however, is Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington.
The mother-of-two has been campaigning for the incoming new government to review legislation around selling blue, white and grey-coloured swimwear for kids.
"I’ve swam my entire life and I’ve only recently become aware that there are certain colours that can’t be seen underwater," she recently told press. "As a parent, I feel like I should have been aware of this sooner."
The news comes just weeks after swimming instructor and TikTok star Nikki Scarnati issued the same warning to mums and dads who follow her online.
"Don't buy blue bathing suits,” she warned.
Nikki then filmed as her daughter swam in a pool while wearing a light blue swimming costume with pink details around the frilled neck portion.
The mum urged parents to skip buying blue shades and choose brighter shades like red, pink and purple for a crucial reason.
"This is why you do not put your children in blue bathing suits," she shared.
"Look how difficult it is to see her under the water, and this is in calm water. This is not with a whole bunch of other kids playing and splashing around and having a good time.
"Even in the sunlight. Look how difficult it is to see her with that bathing suit on because it’s the same colour as our environment. So do not buy blue bathing suits, guys."
Point taken!
Rhianna Benson