Commercial /Extended Range system

• Swimming Pools

• Play Centres

• Schools with special needs

• Hotels

• Schools with a pool

The commercial system is ideal for any of the above applications and more, if you would like a price on any of the commercial systems please contact us by phone or email (details on our contact page)

An Integrator Base Station model B102E shown below, one or more Turtle wristbands [and/or gate alarm sensors and/or panic buttons] and [optionally] a Terrapin supplied Secondary Alarm

The Integrator Base Station has a three contact female jack that contains normally open, normally closed and common contacts. These contacts switch state when the Integrator Base Station begins alarming (almost immediately after Turtle is immersed in water). The ability to use either normally open or normally closed contacts allows for a wide variety of interface solutions.
A Commercial/Extended Range System normally replaces the Standard System in the following circumstances:

1. Desired alarm location is more than 150 feet (45 meters) from immersion location or 50 feet (15 meters) from a salt chlorinated pool.

2. Alarming must occur both poolside and in the residence, as stipulated in ASTM Standard Specification for Pool Alarms F2208-02.

3. Alarm must be louder than 110 decibels, to be heard throughout the residence or outside.

4. The alarm must be communicated electronically, e.g., to home alarm, strobe light indicator, etc.

Terrapin sells two stand alone dual alarming systems: wired solution model SC102 and wireless solution model SB102. These are illustrated in the accompanying diagrams and images.
 

Lifeguards get help from 'turtle'

YMCA uses alarm system to signal pool rescues

By Jake Finch, Correspondent
November 28, 2005

Using a scale based on his years of experience as a lifeguard, Jim Carper's rescue of two young boys this summer in the Simi Valley Family YMCA swimming pool during a class was relatively minor.

Minor though it was, Carper said rescuing the boys who became tangled under water while playing was made much simpler by a new alarm system installed this year at the YMCA, which alerted employees to the rescue.

"I went into the water to pull (the boys) apart," said Carper, a longtime guard and fitness instructor at the YMCA.

"By the time I had got them out, I had the aquatics director, head lifeguard and camp director all standing at the top of the stairs. When you're a lifeguard, it's great to know you have that backup and support."

The alarm, called the Safety Turtle Alarm System, sends a signal to the YMCA's front desk when it becomes wet.

Attached to the lifeguards' rescue buoys, which always go with them into the water during a rescue, the alarm supplements the guards' whistles.

The whistles can't always be heard through the walls of the facility.

Aquatics Director Robert Martin purchased the system after realizing the lifeguards' whistles couldn't always be heard.

He wanted something to bring additional help for a lifeguard on a rescue.

"The front desk staff needs to respond to the pool area and see what needs to happen next," he said.

The device was invented to be worn by young children around swimming pools.

Co-inventor Bob Lyons, who is president of the Ontario, Canada-based Terrapin Communications Inc., the Safety Turtle's manufacturer, said this was the first time he's heard of his alarm used in this way: worn by a buoy, not a child.

"I invented this product really for the parent and the home, because this is where the kids are drowning. That's where they need help, but so many more people have picked it up enthusiastically," he said.

Other uses include for ship workers who might fall overboard undetected, seniors working in water therapy programs, and pet owners keeping Fido safe around their pool, Lyons said.

Martin said on the first day the alarm was installed, a little girl at the YMCA taking swim lessons was rescued after falling off the steps into the water while her instructor worked with another child.

"I think what it's done is made the rest of the staff here more aware that we do make rescues. Now everyone hears it," Martin said.

The backup provided by other staff members can be essential to a lifeguard's success during a rescue, Carper said.

"When you go through a rescue situation, there are a dozen things going through your mind," Carper said. "You may have a back injury or a stroke or there may be things with the rescue itself.

Now, when we lifeguard by ourselves, we don't have to worry about clearing the pool, calling the backup guard and calling 911. We can focus on the first aid. I'm very pleased with it."
 

Test Procedure

To establish a standard set of procedures for testing and operating a YMCA Safety Turtle system consisting of Model SB102 and Turtle and/or Panic Button sensors.

2.1         For outdoor pool use, Turtle sensors should be purchased with the Turtle sock accessory, and kept out of heavy or prolonged rain if possible.

 

2.2         After initial setup has been completed, a weekly or as required test should be conducted to verify that the system is working properly.

 

3.1     The Turtle is tested with the Integrator Base Station in Test Mode and its Transmitter plugged in.  The Secondary Alarm will not sound.

3.2     Set the Integrator Base Station to Test Mode by pressing its moon-shaped button (the amber light will come on).

3.3     Partially immerse the Turtle in the pool and verify that the Base Station is beeping slowly.  Dry Turtle with tissue immediately so beeping stops.

3.4         To increase the volume of the test beep, hold down the moon-shaped button while the beep is sounding. Release the button when the desired test beep volume is reached. To decrease the volume, release the button and the hold it down until the volume drops.  As long as the Integrator Base Station is not unplugged, it will remain at the set volume, so this only need be done once.

 

3.5         When beeping stops, next Turtle may be tested as above.

 

3.6         Test Panic button(s) by holding down switch till beeping occurs, then release.

 

3.7         The Integrator Base Station will automatically switch from Test Mode to Active Mode in 15 minutes.  Do not let this happen while testing is in progress.  To restore 15 minute interval, press moon-shaped button to first turn off amber light, then again to turn it back on.

 

3.8         If some [but not all] sensor(s) fail to cause beeping in Test Mode, their batteries are nearing middle age, and should be replaced within 3 months.  This means ordering a Turtle sensor @ $30 from Terrapin, or following battery replacement instructions for Panic Button.

 

3.9         Turtles that do not initiate beeping still need to be dried carefully, otherwise they will initiate alarm when the Integrator Base Station goes back to Active Mode.  Mark “low battery” sensors, and do not retest them in Test Mode.  These sensors must be tested in Active Mode – see 4.

 

3.10       If a Turtle fails to dry within a few minutes [due to prolonged or quick succession immersions], wrap it in aluminum foil or remove from pool area [out of range] until it dries, so it cannot disrupt the system.

 

The horn on the Secondary Alarm is very loud,  so test Secondary Alarm off hours, or after warning staff.

The Secondary Alarm can be tested end to end [1^st Method] or stand alone [2^nd Method].

1^st Method

4.1     The Base Station is in Active Mode (amber light off).

4.2     Follow step 3.3.

4.3         Press moon-shaped button to acknowledge alarm. This will reduce volume at the Integrator Base Station and silence the Secondary Alarm.  The Base Station will silence only after Turtle is “dry”. 

2^nd Method

4.4         Unplug the Transmitter from the Integrator Base Station. This will activate the Secondary Alarm.

4.5         Immediately plug the Transmitter back into the Integrator Base Station.  This will deactivate the Secondary Alarm.

5          False Alarms

Keep Turtles away from heavy pool splashing and puddles.

For outdoor pool use, Turtle sensors should be purchased with the Turtle sock accessory, and kept out of heavy or prolonged rain if possible.

Immediately after immersion, absorb water around Turtle with towel. If possible, then remove Turtle from ultra-high humidity for 10 - 15 minutes to ensure complete drying.

The Redwoods Group, Commercial Specialty Insurers, makes about 1800-200 visits to YMCA branches every year, visiting the swimming pool nearly every time (assuming one is present).  This is a common suggestion/recommendation for the pool area as very few have alarm systems that allow the guard to simply start a rescue without potentially having to waste time getting to an alarm buzzer or (worse yet) a telephone to initiate the protocol.

A portable aquatic-emergency summoning device should be employed instead of a hard-wired emergency button or telephone in the pool area.  Such a device would allow the lifeguard to respond nearly immediately to an aquatic emergency, rather than having travel from where s/he was standing to the emergency call button and then to the distressed swimmer.  The lost time often precludes the guard from meeting the 10-second standard for reaching the distressed swimmer.  Such devices can be obtained from several sources.  Appropriate protocols combined with a commercial version of the Safety Turtle®  (see http://www.safetyturtle.com/)

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