The best way to prevent a child from drowning is to be vigilant. But can you be vigilant 100% of the time? Last year more than 300 children in the U.S. under the age of 5 drowned in backyard swimming pools. Six-hundred more between the ages of 6 and 14 also died due to accidental drowning. There are times when even the best parents take their eyes off their children for a minute or two. At any moment, without any warning, a tragedy can occur. Most pool accidents happen in less than five minutes; about the time it takes to grab a sandwich or a cold bottle of soda. But there are tips and tools that can help reduce water mishaps and promote pool safety. Pool safety alarms are one item that every pool owner should have. The added protection they provide could keep your children from becoming another statistic.   The Pool Alarm is an electronic monitoring system that automatically sounds an alarm when children or pets fall into your unsupervised pool. It's portable, self-contained, and lightweight. The unit is simple to operate. Entry into the pool will be detected by the pool alarm's electronic sensor, triggering a loud pulsating alarm at the unit and inside your house from the remote receiver. Installation of the pool alarm is easy. It sits on the pool deck as in the picture. After you install the alarm, it can't be deactivated. It is always in the alarm ready mode until you put it in sleep mode. If someone who does not know how to put the pool alarm in sleep mode attempts to remove the alarm, it will sound an alarm. The pool alarm comes with a remote receiver which can be mounted in your house up to 200 feet from the main unit. It also comes with a 12 volt power supply, and the unit itself uses one 9-volt battery, which should last approximately one year. Installing a pool alarm is only one safety measure, though, when it comes to safe-guarding your children around the backyard pool. You need to be aware of the other nationally recognized water safety steps to ensure your children, or any child who enters your pool area, is protected as much as possible. Review these tips below and learn them. Don't let your child become another statistic. Practice pool safety. Step 1. For starters, never allow children to swim without adult supervision, even if they know how to swim. And always keep children under five within your reach while at the pool. Step 2. Enclose the pool with a fence that is at least five feet high. Keep the fence clear of chairs or other objects that children can use to climb over the fence. Make sure the gate stays locked and closes automatically. Step 3. Always keep a life saving ring near the pool. Don't use inflatable swimming aids as a substitute for adult supervision or approved life vests. They give children and parents a false sense of security. Step 4. When you are at the pool, be sure to keep a cell phone or a home phone line with you. You would never want to have to leave the pool area to use the phone. In the short amount of time that you are gone, a child can get injured or drown. Step 5. Install pool security devices like infrared motion detectors, underwater wave sensors, and pool alarms that will alert you if someone is in the pool. Step 6. When you're not using it, keep the pool completely covered. Never partially open the pool cover. Step 7. Finally, take the time to learn CPR. Utilizing these guidelines will help you keep your pool a fun, safe area.