| Is your swimming pool safe? Here are some facts to | | | | house, an audible door alarm is a valuable security item. |
| consider: | | | | As the door opens a loud beep or chime is heard. |
| • A person can drown in a few inches of water | | | | Door alarms can be powered by batteries or the |
| within a few seconds. | | | | home's electrical current. Sometimes these alarms |
| • Most child drowning accidents (and deaths) occur | | | | become a nuisance due to the fact that they're |
| while the victim is being supervised. | | | | activated every time the door opens. This can be |
| • In most instances the child was out of sight for | | | | annoying when adults or older children create the |
| less than 5 minutes. | | | | primary flow of traffic. Consequently, if the alarm is |
| • Most drowning victims are under the age of 5. | | | | disengaged to avoid the annoying sound, you're left |
| • More than 300 children, under 5 years of age, | | | | with an unsecured entry point for your pool. Window |
| drown in swimming pools, in the U.S. each year. | | | | alarms operate in similar fashion and might be of use if |
| A drowning typically happens very quickly and without | | | | the pool could be accessed by opening a window. |
| warning. When the safety of loved ones is left solely | | | | Perimeter alarms use laser (infra red) light to create an |
| to the watchful eyes of humans, the chances of an | | | | invisible beam of light around the pool. When the beam |
| incident are far greater. Implementing mechanical | | | | is broken, by someone (or something) walking through |
| swimming pool security precautions can't completely | | | | it, it will cause the alarm to sound. The installation is |
| guarantee against accidental drowning, but it certainly | | | | very flexible but appropriate measures should be |
| can minimize the risk. Security fencing and a wide | | | | taken into account. It should be mounted low enough |
| variety of alarms are readily available to assist with | | | | that a crawling child would activate it. However, be |
| swimming pool security. | | | | mindful that if a large pet has access to this area, it will |
| Perhaps the most simplistic and most commonly | | | | constantly trip the warning device. Perimeter alarms |
| overlooked security feature is fencing. Fencing can be | | | | can be rather expensive. |
| permanent or removable. In its simplest version, one | | | | Wrist alarms are a relatively new product. These |
| can purchase mesh nylon fencing that can easily be | | | | alarms are placed on the child's wrist and locked into |
| attached to existing columns or attached to decorative | | | | place. The wrist alarm communicates with a base |
| posts that are placed around the perimeter of the pool. | | | | station. The alarm on the base station is activated |
| Prefabricated metal panels are also an attractive and | | | | when the wrist alarm becomes submerged in water. A |
| affordable option. | | | | single base unit can support several compatible wrist |
| Assuming you have fencing in place, gate alarms are a | | | | alarms, making them reasonably inexpensive. Be |
| very effective safety feature. The alarm is mounted | | | | warned, however, that these units are not operable in |
| directly on your pool's gate. They are battery powered | | | | salt water. |
| and emit a loud alarm when the gate is opened and | | | | Certainly any one of these security measures will help |
| the magnetic field is broken. The alarm can be | | | | to create a safe swimming environment. However, it |
| temporarily disabled by when an adult presses an | | | | might be wise to consider a combination of these |
| override button. Installation is simple. One minor | | | | safety measures. Losing a child to a drowning accident |
| drawback would be the need to constantly monitor the | | | | is a horrible tragedy, but the odds can be greatly |
| battery strength to ensure the alarm is functional. | | | | reduced by utilizing some of these options. |
| When the pool is accessed by a door leading from the | | | | |