If there's one thing that free-range and helicopter parents [1] can agree on, it's that there's no such thing as too much safety when it comes to swimming pools. The most vulnerable population in terms of drowning are toddlers [2], especially if they somehow find themselves near a pool without an adult realising [3]. Because many toddlers either don't know how to swim or have only had basic swim lessons [4] and little experience considering their age, there are many safety precautions pool owners with kids can and should take, including purchasing one of these genius pool alarms.
In addition to having a gate around the pool and/or pool stairs [5] and an alarm that sounds when a door in the house is opened to alert you that your toddler might be going outside, a pool alarm helps to go the extra mile by alerting you that something, possibly your child, is in the water, despite your other protective measures.
With so many cases of toddlers drowning [6] or experiencing near misses due to finding their way to a pool unsupervised, ensure that your pool is as safe as possible [7] so that such a tragedy hopefully never occurs [8] on your watch.
PoolGuard PGRM-2 In-Ground Pool Alarm
The battery-powered PoolGuard PGRM-2 In-Ground Pool Alarm [9] ($185, originally $280) is NSF Certified [10] to ASTM Standard F2208 [11], designed to detect intrusions similar to a 1-year-old child, can be used in pools up to 800-square feet, and has an in-house remote receiver.
Techko S187D Safe Pool Alarm
The water and weather resistant Techko S187D Safe Pool Alarm [12] ($22) meets UL standards for child pool safety law and includes an extra set of sensors and a bypass reset button for use on both sliding glass doors and screen doors.
Safety Tech Pool Alarm with Remote Receiver Electronic Monitoring System Motion Sensor
The Safety Tech Pool Alarm with Remote Receiver Electronic Monitoring System Motion Sensor [13] ($132) will sound if tampered with or if your child tries to remove it, and comes with a remote receiver which can be mounted in your home up to 200 feet from the main unit.
Blue Wave NA4212 Poolwatch Pool Alarm System
The Blue Wave NA4212 Poolwatch Pool Alarm System [14] ($125, originally $203) is NSF Certified to ASTM F2208 requirements for pool alarms, and has an electronic sensor to detect children, pets, or intruders — who weigh 18 pounds or more — in the pool. Its remote, battery-powered receiver sounds when the pool alarm is activated and has a 100-foot wireless range.
PoolEye Above Ground Pool Alarm
The battery-operated PoolEye Above Ground Pool Alarm [15] ($64, originally $80) is easy to install — it only takes 10 minutes! — and operate, has a patented underwater wave detector, emits a loud, audible alarm at the control panel, and works in pools with up to a 24-foot circumference or a 16 by 32-foot oval shape.
Smartpool PE23 PoolEye AG/IG Immersion Alarm
The ASTM-compliant Smartpool PE23 PoolEye AG/IG Immersion Alarm [16] ($111, originally $219) has a remote receiver and works in in-ground or above-ground pools up to 18 by 36-feet. Plus, its one remote can be used for multiple alarms.
Poolguard GAPT-2 Outdoor Pool Gate Alarm
The battery-powered Poolguard GAPT-2 Outdoor Pool Gate Alarm [17] ($50, origianlly $63) isn't actually for the inside of the pool, but for the pool gate. In addition to a pool alarm, this one is perfect to use on an outdoor pool gate so that you can hear an alarm sound before your child even gets to the pool.