A pool alarm can alert you before an accident turns fatal. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested seven pool alarms (they tell you when the water is disturbed) and six gates (installed around your pool, they sound when the gate is opened).

The gates all passed, but only four alarms did: MC International Sensor Espio ($699), RJE Technologies AquaGuard ($495), MG International Swim Alert ($299) and Poolguard PGRM-2 ($260). The remaining three gave false alarms and didn't always register water disturbance: SmartPool PE22 ($180-$200), Driven Designers Pool Patrol PA-30 ($200) and Allweather Pool S.O.S. ($58). The full results are at www.goodhousekeeping.com/pools.