Pocono News Section

New Pool Alarm Demonstrated

New Pool Alarm Demonstrated - Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 4:10PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 @ 04:10pm EST
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY --Last August, three Luzerne County children drowned in backyard pools. It's every parent’s nightmare. So tonight we're showing you a new technology that could save lives. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico is live near Mountaintop to show us how it works.

Pool alarms are nothing new but many give false alarms when wind picks up or a ball rolls in. The creators of Swim Alert says its alarm won't do that. In fact, this model was the good housekeeping institute's favorite pick.

It just takes a second for summer fun to go horribly wrong. Last August 2-year-old Lily Sims of Forty Fort drowned in her family's backyard pool. Three weeks later, five- and seven- year- old sisters died in a neighbor's pool in Wilkes-Barre.

"That's the kind of thing you worry about." The mother of five young girls, June Kline of Mountaintop can't see the pool from her house. "If the kids are playing in the yard are they really in the yard or did they go in the pool yard?

With the Swim Alert pool alarm by MG International, Bill Whitehurst says you'll know. "We're looking at shockwaves created under water when the object falls in, rather than surface noise." He says that sets his models apart from other alarms that go off with wind or when small objects fall in. Bill says the alarms won't blare until it detects 18 pounds or more --like this dummy. "What's important to watch is that we're going to create ripples in surface but the alarm will go off before the ripples get there. One thousand one...one thousand five."

The piercing alarm can be heard outside and inside from a second device. A magnet fob turns the alarm off and on. The Swim Alert sells for 300 dollars. The newer model, Sensor Espio retails for almost 700 dollars. But after watching it in action, June thinks the peace of mind is well worth the investment. "For people who don't or can't have safety covers on their pool it’s a wonderful option."

Of course nothing replaces vigilant supervision. But in the case of the two- year- old we mentioned, her mom was putting a sibling down for a nap when lily snuck outside and into the pool. Perhaps just this is just one more tool in a parents' arsenal.

CPSC offers the following tips for pool owners:

• Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool.
• Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.
• Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision. Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.
• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
• Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.
• Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.
• Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.
• Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.
• Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
• Keep rescue equipment by the pool.