What is assistive lifeguard technology?

GUIDANCE

Assistive lifeguard technology, sometimes called 'drowning detection systems', is developing rapidly and disrupting the commercial and residential aquatic marketplace. For residential consumers, it has become part of the Internet of Things (IoT) network in the family home, whilst for commercial operators, it promises significant savings, reduces risk to consumers, and helps lifeguards detect pool users in distress. That raises the question, what is drowning detection technology? 

What is a drowning detection system? 

In short, a technology that alerts others when it identifies a person who may be in distress and require rescue. 

Are all drowning detection systems the same?

No, they work in different ways: 

1. Some analyze images to detect patterns and alert lifeguards to objects when it recognizes those patterns. 
2. Some provide a continuous signal to a receiver which is blocked when a person goes underwater, and if they stay underwater too long, the system alerts lifeguards to someone submerged. 
3. Some monitor a pool user's heart rate; if it identifies distress, it alerts lifeguards. 
4. Some provide a continuous sonar pulse through the water, which will alert lifeguards to an object on the bottom is blocked by an object. 
5. Some monitor heat signals are given off by pool users, which drop if they fall unconscious, and alert lifeguards to a person in distress. 

The most common types of commercial pool drowning detection systems in the UK are systems 1, 2, and 3, as described above. 

Where are they used?

They are used in commercial swimming pools supported by either lifeguards or emergency responders and in residential pools. Some systems can be used for indoor and outdoor pools in natural or artificially lit environments. 

New systems have also been developed for use in beach environments. 

How are they used? 

Currently, they support lifeguards or emergency responders in performing surveillance and identifying pool users who might be at risk of drowning. The UK still requires commercial swimming pools to be supervised by remote or constant poolside supervision. Based on the current guidance, supervision cannot be left solely to a drowning detection system. 

What can they do? 

Each system has different capabilities, and you should check with the designer or retailer to understand more about the capability of a particular system. The capability of a DDS depends on the following: 

• What information does it collect (input type, such as natural light, sound, etc.)?
• How it processes that information (the algorithm). 
• What conditions has it been designed to identify (detection conditions, i.e. how long an object has been submerged, its shape, the pattern of its movement)? 
• How that information is transmitted (fiberoptic or cloud-based). 
• How persons are alerted when those conditions are met (alert, i.e. audible, visual). 
• What information alerted persons are provided (i.e. the location of the pool user, a real-time image)? 
• How alerted persons can respond (i.e. silence the alarm, perform a rescue). 
• How does the algorithm change following the alerted person's response (i.e. does it update its detection conditions?)? 

What can they not do? 

Again, each system is different, and you should check with the designer or retailer. A drowning detection system cannot: 

• Identify every pool user who is in danger. DDS technologies are not yet advanced enough to identify every pool user drowning or unduly late. 
• Proactively manage the safety of pool users. DDS technologies are reactive and do not educate pool users on the safe use of the pool or intervene to prevent incidents. 
• Know a person is drowning. It can identify environmental factors which indicate a person is in distress, but it does not know whether drowning is the cause of that distress. A human being is required to make that determination using the information the DDS provides. 
• Perform a rescue. The age of the robo-lifeguard is still some years away, and I am told (last I heard, they were still struggling with walking and stairs, let alone swimming and towing).  

Why do operators want to use them? 

Drowning detection systems present opportunities for operators: 

• Provide an additional layer of protection for managing the safety of pool users.
• Improve lifeguard visibility and detection rates. 
• Enable fewer lifeguards to see 100% of the pool, reducing staffing costs. 

Operators also want to use the savings generated by DDS technology to reinvest in new and improved customer services, including extended pool opening times and larger swimming pools.  

Are drowning detection systems used in UK swimming pools? 

Yes, we estimate that there are over 150 pools now using a drowning detection system in the UK. 

References

CIMSPA et al. 2023. UK swimming pool operator guidance for Automated Monitoring and Detection Systems in public lifeguarded swimming pools. Available at https://www.rlss.org.uk/other-guidance accessed 6 June 2023.

WIRH. 2023. Research summary: Drowning detection and lifeguard performance. Available at https://www.thewirh.com/blog/detection-performance accessed 6 June 2023. 

WIRH. 2023. Research summary: Drowning detection systems. Available at https://www.thewirh.com/blog/dds-research accessed 6 June 2023. 

WIRH. 2022. Drowning detection system retailers. Available at https://www.thewirh.com/blog/dds-retailers accessed 6 June 2023. 

WIRH. 2023. Data protection and assisted lifeguard technology. Available at https://www.thewirh.com/blog/alt-privacy accessed 6 June 2023. 

WIRH. 2022. How do drowning detection systems identify water incidents? Available at https://www.thewirh.com/blog/dds-how-do-they-work accessed 6 June 2023. 

WIRH. 2022. What does drowning look like? Available at https://www.thewirh.com/blog/drowning-signs accessed 6 June 2023. 

Citation. Jacklin, D. 2023. What is a drowning detection system? Water Incident Research Hub, 30 January; updated 6 June 2023.