Drowning and the Safety Turtle

Swimming pools are an ever-present danger to pets. Healthy dogs and cats have an innate ability to swim short distances, although animals often can’t get out of the pool due to steep pool edges and an inability to find the steps. Panic quickly leads to exhaustion and escape from the pool rapidly turns into a life and death struggle. Barking is usually impossible once the dog is in the water.

An animal can drown very quickly and quietly. In a number of cases, pets have drowned even when their owners have been close by and have simply not been aware that the animal was in the water and in trouble. Many pet owners are exceptionally close to their pets and an unexpected traumatic event such as a drowning often leaves them feeling completely devastated.

However, technology has finally come to the rescue.

The Safety Turtle pool alarm system for pets consists of a Base Station and a small, colour-coded Turtle sensor that attaches to the pet’s collar. If the pet falls or ventures into the water, the Turtle sensor instantly sends a radio signal to the Base Station, which sounds a very loud and distinctive alarm to alert the owner in time to rescue the distressed animal. One Base Station works with any number of pets having the same colour Turtle sensor.

The product has been very carefully designed. The Turtle is locked into place with a key, to ensure that it is not knocked off accidentally. Rain or ground moisture does not set off the alarm. The product is permanently sealed and ruggedly built. There is no hardware to install and the unit is completely portable. For use outdoors, the Base Station can run from a rechargeable battery.

Unlike other alarms that detect intrusion and therefore have to be deactivated (and must then be reactivated) whenever someone enters the pool area, whether to swim or even to clean the pool, Safety Turtle provides continuous protection to the wearer. The Safety Turtle, by its very nature, can protect a pet even when the pool is in use, because the product effectively protects the wearer and not the water. This distinction is vital, because water accidents often occur very quickly and often take place when people are in attendance.

Once a beloved pet stops breathing, irreversible brain damage begins to occur within minutes, so rapid action is required if a life is to be saved. If a pet wearing a Safety Turtle somehow manages to reach water, the alarm will immediately sound to alert the household in time to prevent a tragedy.

While no product should ever be used as a substitute for supervision, the Safety Turtle offers an additional layer of protection to further reduce the possibility of drowning. The product has been featured in hundreds of international magazines, newspapers, radio and television shows worldwide and is currently being carried by thousands of pet stores around the world.

Endorsements on the ability of the Safety Turtle to reduce the risk of a pet or child drowning include the following:

• The Safety Turtle was selected by Dog World magazine as product of the year for the December 2000 issue.
• The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, a national animal welfare charity that represents more than one hundred humane societies and SPCAs in Canada recently stated: “The CFHS believes that the Safety Turtle offers pet owners an option to protect their pets from drowning accidents…CFHS applauds the manufacturer of the Turtle for recognizing the need for a product that helps keep all members of the family safe near water.”
• “...the Safety Turtle is very helpful as an added precaution." Rick Hega, Executive Director of the Canadian Lifesaving Society
• Money Sense Magazine, September 2002, “101 Things Worth the Money” refers to Safety Turtle as “Lifesaver”.
• Good Housekeeping Institute, July 2001: evaluates 8 pool alarms, recommended only 3 including Safety Turtle.
• Pool Search, 2000 and 2001 Planning Guides: Safety Turtle is Editor’s Choice as single best product of the year.
• Gadget Guru, 1999: highly recommended, “easiest-to-use safety device this Guru has ever found”.

The Safety Turtle has been featured on:

1. The Oprah Winfrey show on three “Dangers in the Home” airings.
2. Good Morning America
3. Today Show
4. Michael Holigan’s Your New House
5. Travel Gear
6. Discovery Channel
7. Travel Channel
8. Global News
9. CTV News
10. CBS
11. NBC
12. Fox
13. ABC News
14. The View

Videos:

• CBS footage of how the safety Turtle saved a beloved pet.
  
• Safety Turtle for Pets.