A Southland science fair project could have life-saving consequences.
Limehills School pupil Libby Ruddenklau, of Winton, was concerned about water safety for children and surveyed people at last year's Southland Boat Show to determine which of three colours was most visible.
Yellow stood out. Using her research, she designed a high-visibility water-sports vest for the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter Science and Technology fair in August last year.
The design won a New Zealand Safety Award.
Her parents, Margie and Paul Ruddenklau, who own Marine South Ltd, in Invercargill, were impressed with the design and showed it to Hutchwilco, an Auckland marine product manufacturer.
The couple paid the company to make up a yellow neoprene prototype (the same material as in wetsuits), which cost them $110.
Libby said as she wanted the vests to be as highly visible as possible, she asked for the design to be changed to include a yellow/orange/black combination.
The prototype vest was then submitted to the New Zealand Water Safety Council's inaugural water safety awards, and won a merit award.
Libby said she was pleased with her design.
She said water-sports vests had been made in dark colours, which were difficult to see in the water.
"I was worried kids could be killed in accidents on the water," Libby said.
"I wanted to change the colours of the jackets."
"She called her project Be Safe Be Seen," Mrs Ruddenklau said.
Mr and Mrs Ruddenklau have since paid for 80 vests to be manufactured and they are now available in their shop.
Libby is still refining her design and is hoping to have the vests made in pink or green, which she says will appeal to girls.
