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.

To help you choose the right pool alarm for your home, here’s an overview of the different types of pool alarm systems that work well in above ground swimming pools and some recommended models for each type.

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It takes only minutes for a child to drown, which is why most towns have swimming pool safety laws requiring homeowners to enclose pools and spas with a fence at least four feet high with a self-closing gate. And because the pool gate is often the weakest link in keeping youngsters out of the pool area, many municipalities also require a pool gate alarm as another layer of protection.

A pool gate alarm sounds a siren when the door or gate is opened. If a child manages to open the gate, the piercing siren of the pool gate alarm will alert nearby adults that someone has entered the pool area. The alarm will sound continuously or intermittently until the reset button is pushed or the battery expires. Most gate alarms have a time delay of about 6-7 seconds so an adult can pass through and silence the alarm within that time period by pressing the bypass button or entering the proper code. (There are models available with a 0 second delay.)

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Pool alarms provide invaluable protection for children and pets and are often required by law. Selecting the right  pool alarm is essential for maximum protection. Use this guide to help you choose the ideal pool alarm for your particular situation.

The main factors to consider when selecting a pool alarm are the type and size of the pool, and how the alarm will be armed and disarmed. Some units need to be removed from the pool in order to swim and others need to be manually turned on and off. More sophisticated models can be put into a “swim mode” that will automatically re-arm after the water in the pool becomes still.

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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: Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »