Solar-powered immersion alarms installed in a public swimming pool in France to comply with new child anti-drowning legislation.
France has half a million private swimming pools and the world's largest rate of infant death by drowning in pool accidents. In an attempt to improve these statistics, former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin introduced the 'Raffarin Law' aimed at reducing the annual tragedies. By 2004, all in-ground pools rented to visitors were required to have anti-drowning security systems installed and this legislation was extended to private pools by January 2006. Pool owners have four options. They can install a barrier fence at least metres high, a pool cover strong enough to bear the weight of a child, a perimeter alarm which sounds a siren when a child gets too close or an immersion alarm which goes off when an object of more than 2 kilograms falls into the water. If a child drowns in a French pool, the owner is liable to a fine of 45,000 Euros and perhaps criminal charges of causing death by negligence. None of the security devices is intended to replace responsible adult supervision of children around a swimming pool. Pictured are twin solar-powered immersion alarms which sound a loud siren when an object falls into the water. They are activated automatically and have to be deactivated magnetically before swimming by a person holding a special key.
Size: 5120px × 3407px
Location: Perigord Noir, SW France
Photo credit: © byrnecraigie.com / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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