As summer draws families to pools, lakes, and beaches, one Florida mother is sharing a life-saving tip: the color of your child’s swimsuit can make a critical difference in their safety.
Nikki Scarnati, a 32-year-old swim instructor and mother of two from Spring Hill, Florida, went viral on TikTok with a demonstration that’s made parents reconsider swimsuit choices. In her clip, her two-year-old daughter Claire floats in a calm pool wearing a light blue suit that blends almost perfectly with the water.
“Look how difficult it is to see her under the water — and this is in calm water,” Scarnati says. “Even in the sunlight, it’s hard to see her because the color matches the environment.”
Scarnati bought the light-blue suit specifically for the demonstration, explaining it was a lesson she learned from her mother. “My mom wanted us to be easiest to spot,” she said. “As I taught swimming, I realized it wasn’t as widely known as I thought.”
Blue swimsuits — common for children — are among the hardest to see in both pools and open water, a frustration for water safety experts. Adam Katchmarchi, of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, advises choosing bright, high-contrast colors. “Bright colors — no matter your age — are a smart safety step,” he said.
Experts recommend neon yellow, orange, or hot pink, which stand out against both blue pools and murky lakes or oceans. This visibility can mean the difference between a quick rescue and tragedy.
However, Katchmarchi emphasizes that color is no substitute for active supervision. “A bright swimsuit just makes that task easier,” he said.
According to 2024 CDC data, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under four. Scarnati hopes her video, with over 6.5 million views, will help bring that number down.
