Parents are being warned to check the colour of their children’s’ swimwear as some colours become invisible under water making it hard to know when a child needs help in the water
Experts are calling for a ban on the sales of blue, white and grey coloured swimwear for children as these colours pose a risk of becoming invisible under water.
Travel experts and double Olympic gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington, is urging the new government to stop the sale of blue, white and grey coloured swimwear for children as following testing, these colours are not visible underwater – meaning if a child was at the bottom of a pool they would be difficult to spot and in danger of drowning.
Adlington and On the Beach have been joined by thousands of people in signing a petition calling for the new government to ban the sale of dangerously coloured swimwear.
In a bid to get parents to avoid blue, white and grey swimwear, On the Beach will be giving away thousands of free pieces of swimwear and money off swimming lessons from today.
The holiday experts have created bright red and yellow patterned swimming costumes and shorts and is giving them to children for free. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach said: “Despite us calling out swimwear brands and high street retailers, they continue to sell dangerous, unseeable swimwear to children.
“If they’re not going to make a difference, then we are. From today we’re giving away thousands of free, seeable swimwear to children and giving them money off their next visit to the swimming baths.
“We’re doing everything we can, now we’re calling on Sir Keir Starmer and his new government to make immediate legislation changes before the summer holidays.”
Adlington, OBE said: “Alongside On the Beach I’m urging the new government to review the legislation around selling blue, white and grey swimwear to children to ensure retailers are being safe and helping look after our children by not selling swimwear that could put them in danger.
“What On the Beach is doing is incredible, offering free, bright, seeable swimwear to thousands of children to help keep them visible in the water this summer.”
Two thirds of children wear potentially dangerous blue, white or grey swimwear and a worrying 90% of parents are not aware that certain colours of swimwear cannot be seen underwater.
Colours of swimwear that can’t be seen as easily underwater:
Colours of swimwear that can be seen more easily underwater
- Pink
- Yellow
- Red
- Black
- Purple
- Green
- Fluorescent colours
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