Pools Alarms

Having a pool in your home is a great thing, but one must consider the risks and responsibilities involved in owning one. Drowning, after all, is among the leading causes of accident related deaths. All it takes is about 2 inches of water and 2 seconds for a baby to drown.

The principles of pool safety come as part of any pool purchase package, and in any roster of pool safety guidelines, installing a pool safety system can be found.

Pool alarms don’t necessarily mean permanent fixtures to be installed. They are basically devices insured to negate a drowning incident. Among the most common are wristband alarms, underwater monitoring alarms, surface alarms, gate alarms and perimeter alarms.

Wristband Alarms

These pool safety devices are worn by swimmers, oftentimes children. Their working logic is pretty simple. Once the wearer falls at the risk of drowning, all he/she has to do is activate the device (usually a button is pressed) which would then send a signal to a working transceiver, thus triggering the device’s alarm system. Help could then be on its way. Wearers have to be briefed regarding the operational procedures of the device, of course.

Underwater Monitoring Alarms

These devices are basically cameras geared to monitor pool activity, and can be broken down into two different types: passive and active.

Addressing the physical limitations of viewing blind spots in an underwater environment, passive underwater monitoring devices can often be found in public swimming pools. Active Underwater monitoring alarms are designed to address the limitations imposed by the human factor, and could also be found in public pools.

Both types utilize the use of three technologies for their successful operation. Underwater video cameras are used to monitor swimmers. Remote monitors enable lifeguards to oversee various areas of a swimming pool, at the same time. Computer-Aided Drowning Detectors heighten lifeguards’ drowning detection skills.

Keeping an eye on swimmers, underwater monitoring alarms are quite effective in the pool safety arena.

Surface Alarms

Also known as floating/wave sensors, devices of this type can be often found mounted on the edge of a pool, or in the pool itself. They generally sense water displacement once an object weighing more than fifteen pounds is in the pool. Once this happens, the alarm gets triggered, and an alarm is heard, informing pool owners that someone is in the pool. Quite useful when children are within the area.

Gate Alarms

Obviously, gate alarms “keep and eye” on the pool’s gates, making sure children (or any one not in the capacity to go swimming unsupervised like Alzheimer’s patients) don’t go to the pool unsupervised.

Once the alarm is triggered, pool owners would know someone’s up to use the pool. This information would be enough to prevent a possible drowning.

Perimeter Alarms

As the device’s name suggests, these devices monitor the pool’s perimeter. Once someone breaches this, the alarm is triggered, and once again, supervising adults are made aware of the pool usage.

They basically function no different from pool surface alarms, and can be installed quite easily.

Of course, the installation of pool safety devices isn’t just the only list in pool safety.

Installing gates keep pools safe for children and adults alike. A pool cover also illicit the same level of security a gate would. Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) would also be a good idea if you own your own pool. Keeping a telephone near the pool area is also a good way of keeping your pool safe.

Of course, swimming alone is a big no-no when it comes to pool safety. Even expert swimmers could fall victim to unforeseen accidents. Without anyone to help in the time of an emergency, drowning may be imminent.