While the majority of drowning accidents involve young children, medically-frail seniors and handicapped persons are also at high risk of drowning or near-drowning injuries, tragedies that can be prevented by better caregiver supervision and the use of a pool alarm. Water is a great source of therapy for handicapped and older persons because it can restore agility and strength and improve circulation, but backyard pools must have the right pool safety equipment to be truly beneficial.
A large percentage of drowning accidents occur when supervising adults are near the victim, but not paying close attention when he or she falls into the water. Oftentimes the victim slips under the water’s surface silently and isn’t noticed until it’s too late. Seniors who suffer from ailments that can affect their vision, judgment, balance or coordination — like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes or a heart condition — are especially vulnerable when they are near the open water.
New Immersion Pool Alarm for Adults
A new “immersion” pool alarm designed specifically for adults is ideal for protecting elderly and handicapped persons against drowning. “Immersion” pool alarms have a water-activated sensor worn by the user, usually on a wristband. If the user falls into a pool, spa or other fresh water, the sensor immediately signals a nearby base station, which sounds a loud alarm. The alarm continues to sound until it is reset.
Offered by Safety Turtle, the SOS adult immersion pool alarm provides continuous protection to anyone wearing the sensor wristband. (The sensor can also be attached to a lifejacket.) Caregivers and family will hear a loud alarm as soon as their loved one enters the water, even if they don’t hear or see the splash.
Combine with Other Layers of Protection
Many towns and cities have swimming pool safety laws that require homeowners to enclose their pool area with a fence at least four feet high. A self-closing gate with a gate alarm is often recommended or required. These barriers may be enough to keep children or wandering adults out of the pool area, but the addition of a pool alarm that will sound when someone actually falls into the water adds another important layer of protection to prevent accidental drowning.
Protects Boaters and Workers Too
The Safety Turtle SOS adult immersion pool alarm is portable and can be taken anywhere. Boaters can use it as a “man overboard” warning device to protect the captain or crew when crossing fresh water lakes and rivers. It can also be used by businesses to protect workers on bridges or employees who are working around other types of water hazards. Additional wristbands can be added to protect multiple crew members or workers.
Drowning can Happen Anywhere, Anytime
Drowning accidents are common and can happen anywhere and to just about anyone, but most victims are small children and ill or weakened adults who may not be able to lift their head above the water. If you are responsible for the well-being of a medically-frail adult or handicapped person and have a backyard swimming pool, a Safety Turtle SOS adult immersion pool alarm can help protect them from accidental drowning and give you peace-of-mind.
A pool alarm is one of the most effective ways to prevent backyard drowning of unsupervised children or pets. Once a child slips under the water, it only takes minutes for her to lose consciousness, followed soon by permanent brain damage or death. To prevent an accidental drowning in your backyard, get a pool alarm that will alert adults of the emergency so they can intervene, before it’s too late.
With drowning ranked as the second leading cause of unintentional death to children nationwide, you would think more homeowners would make pool safety a priority. Sadly, three-quarters of all pool- or spa-related fatalities involve children under the age of 5 according to the 
Early spring is a good time to check your home for normal wear-and-tear and to look around for damage caused by the harsh winter. Here’s a checklist of home maintenance items that can be reviewed in a weekend. If you discover any problems, it’s a good idea to take care of repairs now before they become big ticket items.
Many dogs love to splash in the water on a hot summer day, but since not all dogs are natural swimmers, it’s up to you to keep your dog safe when she’s by the swimming pool, beach or lake. Depending upon your dog’s breed, age or health, a dip in the pool or leap off or a dock could be either a frolicking good time or a brush with death. In fact, over 5,000 dogs drown each year in backyard pools alone! To keep your dog safe this summer when she’s near the water, here are six “layers of protection” you can try: 
Curious children and swimming pools can be a dangerous combination, especially when important swimming pool safety guidelines are not followed and enforced. It takes only minutes for a child to drown. In 77 percent of drowning incidents, parents or caregivers say that the young victim was out of sight for 5 minutes or less! Surprisingly, 65 percent of swimming pool accidents involving children happen in their own backyard and another 33 percent happen at the home of a relative or friend. Very few (2 percent) child drownings occur at a public beach or town pool or involve a child who “trespassed” into a neighboring yard. 
