-An average of 350 children under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools every year.
-In addition, an average of 2,600 children under the age of 5 are treated in hospital ER rooms for near-drowning incidents in swimming pools every year.
-About 79% of these incidents take place in home locations.
-Children between ages 1 and 2 are at the greatest risk for drowning in a home swimming pool.
One effective way to add another layer of protection for your children are pool alarms. Of course, you cannot rely on a pool alarm alone! But a pool alarm system can monitor disturbances of the pool water in order to assist you in keeping your backyard safe for young children. Also, consider adding a pool gate/door alarm.
But which pool alarm do you pick?
There are three main types of pool alarms:
Surface Wave Sensors - "This type of sensor floats on the water surface. The sensor incorporates an electrical circuit that includes two contacts. One contact rests in the water; the second contact (above-surface contact) is adjusted so that it is resting above the water. When the above-surface contact is touched by water (from a surface wave), the electrical circuit is completed and an alarm sounds."
Subsurface Disturbance Sensors - "These sensors mount on the side of a pool, with portions of the devices being located 1/2 to 12 inches below the water surface. Each device relies on a wave-induced pressure change to activate alarm circuitry." Can be used with a solar blanket.
Wristband - "The wristband must be placed on a child’s arm by a parent or caregiver; a locking key prevents the child from removing the band. When the sensor on the band becomes wet, the remote alarm is activated, warning the parent that the wristband has been exposed to water." Wristbands are technically "personal immersion detectors" as they detect whether a person has come into contact with water rather than disturbance of pool water.
In a May 2000 test study of the three types of alarms, the CPSC found that Subsurface Disturbance Sensors generally performed with more reliable consistency and were less likely to "false alarm" (from conditions such as a small object like basketball falling into the pool or stormy weather) than Surface Wave Sensors. Wristband alarms also performed with reliable consistency and alarmed whenever submerged in water or exposed to water.
Good Housekeeping Research Institute and Consumer Reports have also conducted studies to test the effectiveness of different pool alarm brands. ASTM International's voluntary standards state, "an 85-plus-decibel alarm must sound poolside and in the house within 20 seconds when an 18-pound mannequin falls into the pool, and there must be no false alarms in a 15-mph wind or when a basketball plops into the pool.
1) PoolGuard In-Ground Pool alarm - PGRM2
According to Good Housekeeping Research Institute, "The PGRM-2 sounded on each mannequin drop with an average response time of 9.45 seconds, and did not alarm during the wind test. This subsurface device meets all of GHRI’s safety requirements." PGRM-2 is "Top Rated" by Good Housekeeping Magazine and have been Tested and Certified by NSF International to the ASTM Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms F22008. The PGRM-2 is considered the one of the best affordable alarm Subsurface Disturbance Sensor alarm system for in-ground pools.
Price: $199.99 at PoolSupplyWorld.com (Free Shipping)
2) PoolGuard Above Ground Pool Alarm - PGRM-AG
As an above-ground alternative to the PGRM-2, Poolguard offers the PGRM-AG. The PGRM2 is recommended by Consumer Reports after passing their testing. Like the PGRM-2, PGRM-AG is tested and 'Top Rated' by Good Housekeeping Magazine and Tested and Certified by NSF International to the ASTM Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms F22008.
Price: $179.99 at PoolSupplyWorld.com (Free Shipping)
3) Swim Alert Immersion Sensing Pool Alarm System - SWIM007
The Swim Alert Pool Alarm System is made by MG International and is a Subsurface Disturbance Sensor with AquaSensor sub-surface pulse signal analysis software. According to Good Housekeeping Research Institute, "The Swim Alert sounded on each mannequin drop test with the fastest average response time of 8.76 seconds, and did not alarm during the wind test. It tied with the Espio for the loudest alarm. This subsurface device meets all of GHRI’s safety requirements." The Swim Alert also meets the requirements of ASTM Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms F22008 and conforms to CA, CT, NJ and NY pool alarm codes.
Price: $194.99 at PoolSupplyWorld.com (Free Shipping)
4) Swim Alert Immersion Sensing Pool Alarm System - SWIM007
The Safety Turtle is the top personal immersion detector to detect if a child comes into contact with water. The Safety Turtle was the only personal immersion detector tested by Good Housekeeping Research Institute who found the product "alarmed immediately when introduced to the water". The Safety Turtle has also been tested by Consumer Reports and CPSC. It can be as an alternative to pool alarm systems or in addition to pool alarm systems for extra protection. The Safety Turtle also offers mobility with its wristband and portable base unit. Read more about using the Safety Turtle at the beach/boating/salt water-environments here.
Price: $157.95 at PoolSupplyWorld.com (Free Shipping)
ALARMS THAT FAILED TESTING -watch out for these!)-
Pool S.O.S., PoolEye PE21, Pool Patrol were rated Not Acceptable by Consumer Reports. PoolEye PE22, Pool Patrol PA-30, Pool S.O.S. failed Good Housekeeping Research Institute safety tests and are not recommended.Sources for Information on Pool Alarms:
CPSC.gov
GoodHousekeeping.com
PoolSupplyWorld.com
ConsumerReports.org
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