Parents urged to take 'vital' item on holiday as it can 'save child's life'

Daily Mirror

11-07-2025

Parents have been urged to pack a simple item in their holiday suitcase as it could "save a child's life." The advice has been issued by an NHS GP ahead of peak travel season
It's getting to that time of year when holiday season is quickly approaching, and you're going to be thinking about what to pack. If you're a parent, you may want to pay attention, as people are being urged to pack a simple item that could "save a child's life."
The advice has been issued by NHS GP, Dr Shireen, who often shares vital health advice on TikTok. According to her, you need to ensure you have one very important item of clothing, as it could make a big difference to children's safety when they're having fun and relaxing near the pool.
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In a candid video, she explained: "If you're planning to go near any pools this summer, please watch this video, particularly if you have young children. The colour of the swimming costume will literally help save their lives if they are in trouble.
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"So, there are some colours that, when they're submerged under water, literally will camouflage with the water, and disappear. That means, if a child is drowning, it will make it so much harder for you to find them, to spot them and to save them.
"On the other side, there are some colours that really show up brightly. And I'm quickly going to go through them with you so, when it comes to you doing your shopping for your clothes for your children and also for yourselves, [you're] making the right choices."
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According to Dr Shireen, bright colours like red and yellow are good options to go for. Orange and neon colours are also said to be better.
The ones you need to "worry about", according to the doctor, are light blue shades, green and grey as they "completely disappear" in the water, which makes it so much harder for children to be spotted.
While it's fine to allow little ones to pick patterns that they like, she said it's wise to be mindful of what sorts of colours you're picking out. The key, according to her, is opting for shades that help to make them more visible.
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Little you may know, Dr Shireen's advice is actually super important. When your children go in the pool, bright, neon colours like orange, pink and yellow are thought to be the "most effective at enhancing visibility in the water", and can even help save lives by making it easier to spot swimmers in distress.
In contrast, dark colours such as navy blue or black tend to blend in with the water, therefore making it much harder to spot when someone is in need of help. The video has been viewed dozens of times since it was shared, with some admitting they had no idea the colour of a swimsuit was so important.
One replied: "So informative. Thank you." Another added: "This is so smart. I didn't even think about this."
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A third said: "Amazing advice." The GP was praised for sharing the top travel tip, as so many people weren't aware of its importance.
NHS advice about water safety states: "Supervise children at all times when they are in or around a water source. Think about water safety in the home - children can drown rapidly and in small volumes of water.
"Ensure paddling pools are always emptied when not in use, or securely covered over. Make your pond safe - use a rigid metal grille across it, fence it off or fill it in.
"Consider teaching your child to swim - get details about public swimming baths, including swimming lessons. Be extra vigilant on holiday - beach and pool conditions and safety standards vary considerably throughout the world."