Swimming Pool Alarms

While continuous supervision of children is the best way to keep them safe around your swimming pool, it just takes a brief moment for a child (or adult) to fall in the pool and drown.  That's why having a pool fence is a good idea.  And, that's why swimming pool alarms can also be a good idea - it's just one more layer of safety for you, your family, and anyone else who happens to fall in your pool.

When using a top model (such as the Poolguard PGRM-AG), pool alarms can help to reduce fatalities associated with drowning.  This is because these alarms are designed to sound when there is a disturbance in the water.  This includes a child or even an adult falling into the pool.  While you will find some variations, most alarms are designed to sound within twenty seconds of that disturbance. 

Reasons to Purchase and Use a Swimming Pool Alarm

1.  It offers one more layer of protection against drowning.

2.  It may be required by law.  In fact, in New York, all pools installed or constructed after December 14, 2006 must come equipped with a pool alarm.

3.  It can reduce liability.  Okay, so you have a pool, but you know how to swim, and you don't have kids. So, why should you have a pool alarm?  It's important to remember that just because you don’t have a child in your home, it doesn’t mean that one can’t make their way into your pool.  Do you have young children who visit your home?  Do you have small children in the neighborhood?  If so, a pool alarm is needed.

4.  They are easy to install.  Another pool safety tool that is recommended (and required by law in many communities) is that of a fence.  Although fences are recommended and may even be required by law, they can be hard to install.  In fact, professional installation is often used.  That isn’t the case with pool alarms.  They are easy to install.  In fact, with detailed directions provided by the manufacturer, it could take you five minutes or less to do so! 

Types of Swimming Pool Alarms

There are actually two types of alarms - one which sits in your pool and sounds an alarm when an object weighing the same as a small child (around 18 lbs.) enters the water, and a wristband your child wears, which alerts you when your child (or pet) enters the water.

Even if you have a pool alarm which sits in your pool, it's a good idea to purchase a wristband alarm for your child.  This can be worn by your child if he or she visits a neighbor's pool, or if your family is taking a trip anywhere there's a body of water, such as a hotel pool or lake.  Many wristband pool alarms can also be modified to be used on your pets. 

Which Swimming Pool Alarm Should You Buy?

According to ConsumerReports.org testing, the Poolguard PGRM-AG will sound an alarm if a small child falls in.  Well, aren't they all supposed to?  According to their tests, The Pool S.O.S., PoolEye PE21, and Pool Patrol were not acceptable.  So, to be safe, stick with the Poolguard PGRM-AG. 

You can go to ConsumerReports.org for complete test results (subscription required).

In addition to a pool alarm, consider a gate alarm.  They are recommended when your pool is protected by a pool fence.  The alarm should sound when the gate is opened.  Whether you purchase a pool alarm, gate alarm, or both, be sure to perform a test.  Make sure that your alarms work before relying too heavily on them.

Synonyms:  Ool, opol, ppool, pol, poool, pol, polo, poool, poo, and pooll are typos for "pool."  Larm, laarm, aalarm, aarm, aalrm, allarm, alrm, alram, alaarm, alam, alamr, alarrm, alar, and alarmm are typos for "alarm."