Safety Turtle for use by Lifeguards at Aquatic Centres

The Safety Turtle, used successfully in dozens of countries around the world to reduce the risk of children drowning in backyard pools, has now been creatively adapted for use in aquatic centres.

In order for the product to fulfill the needs of an aquatic centre, the Base Station is replaced with an Integrator Base Station. The Integrator Base Station functions in the same way as a normal Base Station and looks like a normal Base Station, except for the fact that it has a small plug on the side. The audio jack on the end of a special transmitter is plugged into this external plug. When a Turtle sensor becomes wet and sends the signal to the Integrator Base Station, the Integrator Base Station sounds the alarm in the same way that a normal Base Station would, but the transmitter attached to it then also sends a signal to a Receiver, which then also alarms.

So, if a lifeguard wearing the Turtle wristband enters the water to attempt a rescue, the Integrator Base Station located near the pool(s) will immediately sound the alarm and so will the Receiver (located elsewhere in the centre, probably in the reception area). This will immediately notify other lifeguards and staff throughout the centre that a lifeguard is in the water and a rescue is in progress. These additional personnel can then immediately respond and provide back-up to the lifeguard attempting the rescue. This backup, in some cases, can be essential to a lifeguard's success during a rescue.

The Safety Turtle Extended Range Alarm System can clearly help to reduce response times in an emergency. Most centres rely on radio communication should a rescue situation arise. If a lifeguard has to attempt a rescue, he has to first call for help on the radio. If other staff simply do not hear the call for help or if there is a problem with the radio, this can lead to a delay in the rescue attempt, as the lifeguard would probably want to ensure that his call for help was received before going into the water. Conversely, he might not wish to wait for confirmation of his call for help and might go immediately for the victim, without having anyone to back him up. Some centres rely on whistles for communication in an emergency. The problem with such a system is that someone has to be around to hear the whistle. For example, if a lifeguard watching over the outdoor pools has to perform a rescue and blows his whistle, he will receive no backup whatsoever unless there is another lifeguard outside to hear the whistle! In all of these cases, the Safety Turtle would solve the problem because the alarms would immediately sound both at the pools and also in reception the moment the lifeguard enters the water, immediately informing all other staff that urgent assistance is required.

An Integrator Base Station can pick up the signal from a Turtle sensor from a distance of about 50 metres. If necessary, more sophisticated systems are available that can pick up a Turtle sensor from up to 100 metres. As such, most aquatic centres would require either one or possibly two Integrator Base Stations for the indoor area and one or possibly two Integrator Base Stations for the outdoor area. A maximum of four Integrator Base Stations can be used with one Receiver.

If required, an even more sophisticated system using an external whip antenna is available that can pick up a Turtle sensor from 400 metres.

The distance between the Integrator Base Station and the Receiver can be as much as 500 metres, so generally speaking only one receiver would usually be required for the average aquatic center, as this receiver should easily pick up the signal from both the indoor and outdoor Integrator Base Stations.

The Safety Turtle Extended Range Alarm System is very popular amongst lifeguards in aquatic centres around the world. Most lifeguards, upon seeing the system in use, immediately realise the benefits that the system brings to both them and the public and they appreciate the fact that the system is there to back them up. In a recent case at the Simi Valley Family YMCA overseas, the guard reflected after a recent emergency: "When you're a lifeguard, it's great to know you have that backup and support."

Video: US TV news footage of a recent rescue in an aquatic centre where the Safety Turtle helped save a life.

For purchasing information and pricing, please call the Safety Store Australia Pty Ltd on (08) 9378 7745.