Color is something most of us take for granted.  There is a reason red, yellow, orange, and green are the most popular colors of safety equipment.  Equally compelling reasons that black, brown, and navy is not!  In an emergency situation the correct color can save lives.  The combination of eye catching colors and the psychological impact these colors have on people in distress can mean the difference between life and death.  Latest studies point to lime green as a good choice in many high-risk situations because it is both eye-catching and calming at the same time.

 

Colors have vastly different effects on the autonomic nervous system (the nervous system you have no control over such as breathing).  Some examples, red comes into the eye at the sharpest angle, requiring effort to view.  While it swiftly grabs attention, staring at it will raise blood pressure and increase pulse and breathing.  This gives red an immediate association with energy, power, and danger.  Green has the opposite effect, the easiest color on the eye, it focuses on the retina, producing a calming, healing sensation.  Green hospital walls soothe worried patients and reduce anxiety.  Many theater dressing rooms and TV waiting areas are green.  Yellow literally “pops” out.  If several colored boxes were lined up in a row the eye would see the yellow box as slightly in front of the others.  That is why yellow traffic lights and signs alert drivers to hazards.  Orange combines the energy of red “notice me first” with yellow “warning”, making orange a key color for safety.

 

Lime, however, mixes soothing green with eye-catching yellow, ideal for emergency products, especially those dealing with the public such as school crossings and automatic external defibrillators (AED’s), heart shockers.  Green also says purity, antiseptic cleanliness, and serenity.  This is why it is a favorite of spas, cosmetic packaging, and first- aid kits.  It reassures and instills confidence and represents “safe-to-go” traffic lights.  In regard to outdoor safety,  research shows lime green surpasses all other brights.  Why lime green over orange?  It is the one color not found in nature, so it stands out against all backgrounds.  (Even limes are really pale green).  At night, under dim light it is the best color seen.

 

While bright colors grab our attention in an emergency, dark colors such as black, brown, and navy recede into the background.  Navy blue does represent loyalty and trustworthiness, ideal for uniforms of professionals who command respect such as police, fire, and EMS.

 

We all have strong, often similar emotional reactions to colors.  Because red and orange tend to make people jumpy and excited, they are best for grabbing attention, such as fire hydrants.  Yellow, the first color we notice is associated with feelings of optimism and spontaneity .  Think “sunny disposition”, a good choice for ambulances and stretchers.  Not recommended for electrical devices or lifesaving medical equipment.  Black, not a good choice because of its intimidating and overpowering feeling.  Green with its calming qualities surpasses all other colors, which is why Prozac pills are this hue.

 

The psychological impact of specific colors can be used to alleviate stress and calm both the injured and frightened bystanders.  There are clearly scientific reasons OSHA standardizes safety color usage as: red = danger, orange = warning, yellow = caution,  green = safety.  A similar color code has been adopted by our Homeland Security Department.