Deep Blue Marine launches low cost, high tech automated pool safety system

Deep Blue Marine, a Swiss manufacturer whose engineering team is renowned for developing leading edge Scuba equipment and systems, has announced the launch of the BlueFox Pool Safety System into the Australian market place.
Offering an effective and affordable solution to pool safety, the BlueFox system supplements existing swimming pool lifeguard operations.
The manufacturer has designed coloured wrist bracelets that actually monitor the wearer's behaviour ï¾ and triggers an alarm in the event that the wearer gets into difficulty. This fulfils a dual safety role in identifying the swimming proficiency of each wearer and providing an alarm device to alert minders and lifeguards.
The BlueFox Pool Safety system works on the basis that in a drowning incident, drowning victims become negatively buoyant and consequently sink. In order to monitor this behaviour the system comprises two basic components; a submerged, wall mounted Ultrasonic Sensor and personal Monitoring Bracelets.
The monitoring bracelets will operate in any pool which is fitted with BlueFox Ultrasonic Sensors and their use is not limited to a single pool, being fully scalable across a number of pools, wherever the Ultrasonic Sensors are installed.
The monitoring bracelets monitor depth and time spent at that depth and are programmable by the pool operator from a minimum depth of 5 cm and five seconds, to a maximum depth and time of 125 cm and 95 seconds ï¾ depending on swimmer competency.
So, if a swimmer exceeds the programmed time at a certain depth the monitoring bracelet transmits an ultrasonic signal to the underwater sensor and an alarm sounds.
The monitoring bracelets are available in a choice of four colours; yellow, red, blue and grey.
The detail included by the developers sees the monitoring bracelet batteries capable of providing three months of active use at three hours a day before recharging is required. Moreover, when the monitoring bracelets are stored they automatically switch off (into Sleep Mode), but once they are moved they automatically switch to Standby Mode. Immersion into the water then switches them to Active Mode. The life of the batteries is 1,000 recharging cycles.
LEDs which show: Battery Status (Green OK; Red ï¾ Recharging Required); Software Diagnostic OK (Flashing Green); Alarm Mode (Flashing Red) are integrated into the monitoring bracelets.
PC enabled programming software which allows the operator to vary the above settings, is available by download from a link on the Deep Blue Marine web site.
When a pool operator loads this software onto a computer, they can connect to individual monitoring bracelets via USB connection to change the Time and Depth settings for the monitoring bracelets and unlock any bracelet that has gone into Alarm Mode.
Deep Blue Marine can also supply the monitoring bracelets pre-programmed according to a pre-determined specification.
The ultrasonic sensors are placed at 2/3 the maximum depth of the pool with the number of sensors required being determined by the shape and profile of the pool. As a guide, there should be at least two sensors in a standard 50 metre pool, to provide redundancy and ensure good signal reception.
The sensor system has integrated self diagnostic software. In the unlikely event that a sensor fails, the main alarm lght will flash (without sound). To identify which sensor is not working, an LED will flash on the sensor's corresponding electronic control box. If required, the wall mounted Ultrasonic Sensors can be removed and replaced for servicing without draining the pool.
The ultrasonic sensors then convert the analog signal to a digital one, which is transmitted to a master alarm box with a visual and acoustic alarm of 96 Db. This alarm box has a waterproof casing, so it can be mounted on both interior and exterior walls.
The system was launched in Europe in 2010 and has been installed in both 25 metre and 50 metre pools in G
chris@deepbluemarine.com.au
http://www.deepbluemarine.ch/pool/pool.html