BEE 14 Recommend Alarms as Secondary Pool Safety Measures
Recommend an alarm system as an adjunct layer of protection for residential and semi-private pools and spas, secondary to an existing isolation fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Spectrum level: Influencing Policy and Legislation
Evidence level: Medium
Rationale:
Secondary barriers, such as alarms, can help inform the pool owner when there is an unanticipated entry or drowning behavior in the water, providing an extra layer of safety.
Physical barriers, such as isolation fencing (enclosing pool on 4 sides) or perimeter or property-line fencing are recommended, with isolation fencing seen as superior because perimeter fencing allows access to the pool area through the house. However, in either case, once a physical barrier is breached, the risk of drowning remains the same. Therefore, layers of safety are key to preventing drowning accidents and alarms should be used as an adjunct layer.
Anticipated Impact:
After implementing this recommendation, you can expect to experience the following outcomes.
- An alarm system as an adjunct layer of protection provide extra protection once physical barriers are breached. -Secondary layers of protection, such as alarms, help inform pool owners when there is unanticipated entry, or drowning behavior in the water.
Evidence:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools and several existing state barrier laws and codes include new technology as an additional option when the wall of a dwelling serves as part of the isolation barrier to the pool. The CPSC guidelines state, “Other means of protection are acceptable, as long as the degree of protection afforded is not less than the protection afforded by (a) a UL 2017 Door Alarm, (b) an ASTM F1346 Power Safety Cover, or (c) self-closing doors with self-latching devices..."
Evidence Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2015). Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools. Prevention Child Drownings. Found https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blkmediaSafetyBarrierGuidelinesResPools.pdf.
Whitfield, T.W. (2000). An Evaluation of Swimming Pool Alarms. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Found https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/alarm.pdf
High Risk Populations Addressed:
Populations whose risk of drowning decreases the most with the implementation of this recommendation may have one or more of the following characteristics:
- Children 1-4 years of age
- Communities that have only perimeter fencing as an option within their barrier law
Evaluation Metrics:
Indicators of long-term impact:
- Drowning rates (fatal and non-fatal) in pools and spas decline
Indicators of intermediate impact: - Barrier laws including both primary and secondary layers of protection are passed at state and/or local levels - Existing barrier laws are changed to include alarms as secondary layer of protection to prevent drowning.
Implementation:
Consider the following to ensure successful implementation:
- Deliver public awareness campaigns to educate people on the availability and use of alarms.
- Facilitation of lower alarm costs by manufacturers so they are more affordable for residential pool and spa owners.
Challenges to Implementation:
When implementing this recommendation, you might encounter challenges related to the following factors.
- There may be resistance to add more safety layers among pool and spa owners due to increased costs.
- Building officials may not have knowledge of devices.
- There may be a lack of access to alarms among consumers.
- Consumers may have limitied ability to properly install and maintain devices.
- Alarms may not be popular with pool owners due to excessive sounding.
Potential Facilitators:
State, county, and community water safety coalitions.
GAP Recommendation:
There is little available data on the influence of alarms and other secondary layers of protection (beyond 4-sided pool fence barriers) on drowning rates.