I recently started watching an HBO comedy series called Silicon Valley. It's about a group of software engineers who founded a startup company in Silicon Valley and all the things that can go wrong. It's hysterical. I highly recommend it.
Speaking of startups
After this father learned of the shocking statistics of drowning, he invented a floating drone with built-in 360-degree cameras that can monitor the pool on top of and under the water. It's called Morningstar SOS Pool Sentry.
The monitor is linked to all the smartphones and tablets in your household and will send notifications whenever a child approaches or ends up in the pool. Also, the parent can send for help instantly to the exact address with the touch of a button in case of an emergency.
The Morningstar SOS Pool Sentry is not currently on the market, unfortunately, but if you want to learn more and even help to fund the
project, click here.
A floating drone seems like a great idea, but nothing is 100% effective. You could load your pool up with every safety feature known to man, and yet, if there isn't an adult actively watching,
it is still possible that a child could end up in the pool with no one the wiser because...
- alarms fail
- pool gates are left open or not in good working order
- there's an opening in or under the pool fence because it hasn't been adequately maintained
- the pool cover wasn't put back in
place
- the pool cover filled with water from a recent rainfall (drowning can occur in as little as 2 inches of water)
- and last but not least, the Morningstar SOS Pool Sentry didn't notify you because your devices were turned off. (To be honest, I don't know how true that statement is. Maybe it is still possible to be notified even if your devices are turned off. I messaged the inventor and asked him
that very question. I will let you know when I hear back.)
Even if some safeguards fail, the more layers of security put in place will improve the chances of preventing any accidents. But don't forget, nothing substitutes the presence of a responsible adult who can swim.
Moreover, if you want to know which safety feature currently on the
market provides the best defense against drowning, besides constant adult supervision, it would be a well maintained climb-resistant mesh fence with a self-closing self-latching gate.
I hope the inventor of the drone gets his funding. Until then.
Love the water but fence it in,
Tessa
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