Drowning detection system
Drowning detection systems are systems designed to improve safety by reducing drowning deaths[1] and injuries in public and private pools,[2] waterparks, thermal baths,[3] spa facilities, beaches, or other natural bodies of water[Smart_beach].
Classification
[edit]Pool monitoring systems fall into two broad categories: Passive or Active.
Acticve systems
[edit]Active systems are often using a wearable on the swimmer, such as a wristband, that monitors the behaviour and posistion of the swimmer. If the swimmer is detected to be under water för a certain period an alarm is triggered and through acoustic underwater communication from the wristband to receivers installed in the pool the alarm is tranferred to on-site lifeguards that immediatley can identify which pool and to start rescue. The advantage of such systems is that each person is guarded and that the same wristband can be used for access to facilities and lockers. THe system is mainly used in public swimming pools where life guards are present. [4]
Passive systems
[edit]Passive systems provide lifeguards with views of swimmer activity and behaviour below the water surface, which aids the 10:20 scan for identifying potential incidents. They offer a way of compensating for surface glare and blind spots in the swimming pool, thereby making the lifeguard's job easier. Active systems are designed to automatically monitor the pool and alert lifeguards to potential incidents.[5]
Passive system underwater cameras let lifeguards inspect multiple underwater views simultaneously from a single location.[6][7] Cameras can cover areas which may otherwise be obstructed. Below water cameras can be paired with above water cameras to provide face-to-body matching if there is an incident where a swimmer needs to be identified, in cases of sexual assault for example.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Borzo, Jeanette (2001-11-26). "Business Innovation Awards (A Special Report): Silver --- Poseidon Technologies Makes a Big Splash With Swimming Pool Monitoring System --- Computer System Saves Life of Drowning Teen --- In Big Pools, Lifeguards Can't Do It All". Wall Street Journal (Europe ed.). Brussels. p. 26. ISSN 0921-9986.
- ^ Marinko, Paul (1 September 2005). "Underwater cameras save girl in swimming pool". The Guardian. Bangor, Wales. Retrieved Dec 30, 2015.
- ^ The Spa of Bad Steben Strengthens its Security with Aimetis Symphony, Waterloo, ON (PRWEB) March 23, 2017
- ^ Sentag Pool Safety System https://www.sentag.com/
- ^ "Poseidon Technologies Unveils 'Computers That See' Using Breakthrough Computer Vision Software". Canada NewsWire. Toronto. 4 April 2001.
- ^ High-tech tools can help lifeguards prevent drowning, By Sarah Sookman, CBC News, Jul 22, 2010
- ^ Preventing Drowning Accidents Using Thermal Cameras, Soren Bonderup, Jonas Olsson, Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, volume 10073)
- ^ City-owned pools to get security cameras to deter sexual predators, by Jeff Keele, Political Reporter, CTV News Winnipeg, Published Monday, October 17, 2016 12:34PM CST
- ^ Jury Finds Rose Bowl Aquatic Center Liable for Abuse, By Rebecca Robledo, in, Aquatics International, July 03, 2018