The Need for Pool Alarms

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children below the age of 5 in this country. For every child that dies as a result of drowning, there are approximately 3 children admitted to hospital as a result of a water incident. Studies show that between 5% and 20% of these children have some form of brain damage as a result, as irreversible brain damage begins to occur within 3-4 minutes after a person stops breathing.

The toddler drowning figures have long been considered a national disgrace. Children can drown in pools, baths, ponds, spas and even in buckets and toilets, although the majority of toddler drownings occur in swimming pools.

In order to reduce the risk of drowning, the message to parents has always been - and must always be - that supervision is the key to drowning prevention. Australian water-safety experts also advise all homeowners to install a fence around their pool, teach their children to swim and learn resuscitation techniques.

But can we do more to protect our precious children? In spite of our best efforts, accidents continue to happen and lives continue to be lost.

The problem is simply that drowning occurs very quickly and quietly. Even a momentary lapse of supervision, for example if a parent is momentarily distracted by another child, can lead to tragedy. The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission, reflecting their changing attitude towards the concept that supervision will prevent all drownings, stated after a study on childhood drownings: "Supervision Can and Does Fail".

In addition, a recent survey by The Australian Consumers' Association (ACA), publisher of CHOICE magazines, found that over half of all Australian pool fences tested failed to meet a key safety aspect of the Australian standard for pool fencing.

It is clear that to reduce the risk as much as possible, a layered approach to drowning prevention must be brought to bear.

Technology can assist in the fight against toddler drowning. In recent years there has been a huge increase in the demand for swimming pool alarms in the USA and Europe. While no product can ever take the place of constant adult supervision around water, pool alarms offer an additional layer of protection to further reduce the possibility of drowning. If a child somehow manages to get past a parent and reach the water, the alarm will sound in time to prevent a tragedy. As part of an overall approach to drowning prevention, pool alarms have a very real role to play.

Pool alarms are available in different forms, each with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Some alarm whenever anyone enters the pool area, while others only sound when a child falls into the water. For an alarm to be effective, it must not only be reliable, but must also not false alarm, as repeated false alarms would cause the homeowner to eventually disconnect the alarm, rendering it useless.

Pool Alarms have been tested quite extensively in the USA and are now widely considered to be an effective drowning prevention measure. Pool alarms have saved the lives of many children (and pets) around the world and should be considered by anyone seriously concerned about pool safety.

In a perfect world, sophisticated pool alarms would not be necessary in the fight against toddler drowning, as supervision and pool fencing would be sufficient to prevent these tragedies. Unfortunately the world we live in is far from perfect. Our traditional methods of drowning prevention, while helping to save lives, simply do not go far enough.

Drowning occurs quickly. A parent that is carefully observing his or her child can be momentarily distracted by a ringing phone or by another child and in this short period a toddler can drown. When a child stops breathing, irreversible brain damage begins to occur within 3 to 4 minutes, so rapid action is required if a life is to be saved. The loud shrieking of a pool alarm might be the last sound a parent wants to hear, but it could be all that stands between life and death should a child fall somehow get past a parent and make it into the water.

A multi-layered approach to drowning prevention is the best way to bring down the toddler drowning figures in Australia and pool alarms should clearly form a part of this multi-layered approach.