Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/717930
world fence news • september 2016 • 25 D&D's MagnaLatch ALERT is latest advancement in battle to prevent toddler drowning tragedies HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Drowning is the leading cause of un- intentional death for children between ages 1-4. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10 drowning deaths per day occur in the U.S. Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. Most of those drownings occur in home swimming pools. It has been found and widely re- ported that strong, compliant pool fences are critical, along with strict parental care/supervision of children around pools. When it comes to pool fencing, the gate is the weakest link in restricting access to pools by small children. Low-quality or poorly maintained gates, latches and hinges can fail, and older children often prop open gates, leaving curious toddlers vulnerable to dangerous water. Long-time gate hardware innova- tor D&D Technologies has introduced to the market its latest advancement in the battle against pool drownings. For more than 25 years D&D has been refining and improving its MagnaLatch ® Child Safety Gate Latch, and October it launched the first and only combined gate latch and electronic alarm – the MagnaLatch ® ALERT. The latch-alarm device offers a dual alarm system of flashing LED lights (safety you can see) and an au- dible alarm (safety you can hear). It's the solution for when you can't turn your back for a second. The ALERT latches are designed so that upon each entry or exit of a gate a single beep is heard. This noti- fies property or pool owners whenev- er a child, family, friend, neighbor or even intruder enters or exits a gate. If the gate is left open, a second beep will be heard after 10 seconds, and only after 15 seconds of the gate being open and unlatched does the alarm siren begin to ramp up and LED lights begin to flash, providing owners with visual and audi- ble alerts, even from inside the house. Former Austra- lian Olympic swim- ming coach and child water safety advocate, Laurie Lawrence, has had a long association with D&D Technologies and its Aus- tralian-made products. "I was mightily impressed with the first MagnaLatch when it came out over 20 years ago. But to see this new model of MagnaLatch ALERT, with built-in electronic alarms, represents an entirely new level of safety and peace-of-mind for pool owners," said Lawrence: "This is a major break- through for all types of child safety gates." An attractive fea- ture for householders and pool owners is the ease with which the new latch-alarm system is installed. The alarms are pow- ered by an integrated, replaceable battery, so there's no need for wiring, electricians or special tools. By screwing the latch onto the gate/fence the owner gains both a safety gate latch and an alarm system! Earlier this year the features of the MagnaLatch ALERT were recognized with an Australian "Good Design Award," an interna- tionally recognized award for innova- tive products. In addition to all the alarm fea- tures of the new latch, and like all regular MagnaLatches, the ALERT models feature magnetically-triggered latching, key lockable security (rekey- able by a locksmith to match house doors), a visible Locked/Unlocked in- dicator, and a high degree of horizon- tal and vertical adjustment to ensure ongoing performance. "The MagnaLatch ALERT noti- fies that a gate is not closed and secure, but, more important, it warns that the gate is not properly latched," said Jim Paterson, D&D Technologies Senior Vice President of Sales and Market- ing. "Until the latching mechanism is engaged, the alarms will flash and sound, even on fences where the gate may appear to be closed and safe. So this product is really an 'unlatched' alarm system, which is unique. We're talking about what must surely be the safest gate latch in the world." There are two models of the new MagnaLatch ALERT – the tall "Top Pull" model for swimming pool and other child safety gates, and a shorter "Vertical Pull" model for front, side, perimeter and pet gates. continued on page 46 Shown above is the Magna- Latch Series 3 ALERT Top Pull Child Safety Gate Latch. Not only is the actuator placed be- yond a toddler's reach, the unit is equipped with both visual and aural alarms that alert if the gate is not secured.