Swimming Pool Alarms - Keep Your Pool Safe

Statistics show that drowning is the number two cause of deaths for children who are age five and under and most of these accidents happen in residential swimming pools. Because of the deadly risks of having a pool, those with children in their homes should always take extra precautionary measures.

One effective way to prevent these accidents is by installing swimming pool alarms. These devices will sound an alarm when a child falls into the pool. In recent years, the sales of swimming pool alarms have greatly increased. However, pool owners have to be sure if the swimming pool alarms they bought meet new safety standards. For instance, swimming pool alarms in normal sized pools must sound off within 20 seconds when a child drops.

Parents and pool owners can choose from any of these types of swimming pool alarms: floating or surface alarms that detect motion on the water's surface; underwater alarms that detect motion under water surface and it also reduces false alarms due to rain, for instance; and wristband alarms that children can wear and will sound off upon exposure to water.

Studies showed that the best choice among these three is the underwater alarm.

They are more consistent and reliable than floating swimming pool alarms. The wristband devices gave loud warning sound but any water exposure activates them. Make sure to use alarms with remote or in-home receivers to make sure the alarm sounds not only in the pool but also, more importantly, inside the house or typically up to about 200 feet away.

Aside from using swimming pool alarms, here are other swimming pool safety reminders:

- Surround the pool completely with barriers (fences, walls), which should be at least 4 feet in height and have self-latching gates to keep children away. Remember, that the latch should be out of reach of children.

- Install an approved automatic pool safety cover, which is typically made of durable polyester or tarpaulin sheet and rolled over the pool whenever it is not in use. Not only is this a cost-effective way to childproof your pool but it also keeps it clean. You can use underwater swimming pool alarms with this.

- Remove and lock away steps or ladders to aboveground pools whenever they are not in use.

- Place rescue equipment and a phone by the poolside. Parents or anyone looking after children should know how to give CPR.

Adding swimming pool alarms is a good way to make your swimming pools safe and prevent children from drowning. However, safety experts recommend that parents do not rely on swimming pool alarms alone but instead put in place other safety measures such the above-mentioned examples. In addition, close parental or adult supervision and emergency preparedness such as knowing how to administer CPR are also critical to prevent drowning tragedies.