Safety
Will robots replace lifeguards?
Ah, the promise of technology. Watch the video above and you’re sure to think that robots — flying ones at that! — will soon replace lifeguards. The drone is even shown to beat a human lifeguard to a drowning victim by a sizable amount of time. (Remember, seconds count in drowning emergencies.) It’s not the first time […]
Hawaii has killer waves (and not in a good way)
Drowning is probably the last thing on your mind when you think about Hawaii, the tropical paradise that attracts over 8 million visitors each year. But according to these statistics, it should be among your top concerns, especially if you’re swimming off the main island. The island of Kauai witnesses the highest drowning rate among […]
How do I fence in my pool?
Pool and spa owners in New Zealand are cheering a proposed change to the nation’s fencing law would mean that above-ground portable hot tubs with locking covers are no longer be required to have fences around them. That’s all well and good for those down under. But what about the millions of pool and spa […]
Knowing these 4 pool heater dangers could save your life
A dozen different businesses are embroiled in a lawsuit over a pool heater explosion that injured two people. The courts will ultimately decide who’s at fault in this dispute, but it points out a hidden pool danger many swimmers don’t know about until it’s too late. An estimated 900,000 pools in the U.S. are heated […]
Pool entrapment: understanding and preventing the danger
A child in the Philippines barely escaped with his life recently when he became entrapped in the drain pipe of a local swimming pool. What does this news from halfway around the world have to do with you and swimming pool safety? Plenty. Entrapment is one of the hidden dangers of swimming pools many people […]
Top 4 myths about drowning
Blame it on Baywatch. For years, we’ve been led to believe that drowning people scream, splash, thrash and all but sound a panic alarm before they go under. As with most things produced in Hollywood, this version of drowning is not based in reality. Believe it or not, it took Frank Pia and some pioneering […]
High-tech iSwimband no substitute for pool supervision
A new high-tech water safety detector entered the market this week, even making a splash at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (skip to about the 40-minute mark to see the interview). The iSwimband is a headband and wristband that alerts parents or guardians if kids fall in the water or are submerged for […]