We have been working in aquatic safety for 8 years, starting with our commercial system, the Wahooo® Swim Monitor Sytem. During that time we've worked very closely with the world's leading aquatic safety experts, aquatic organizations, aquatic directors, lifeguards, swim coaches and swimmers to develop our recommended time limits of submersion. Using our recommended time parameters is strongly encouraged, but can be modified by the caregiver using the iSwimband app.
Learn more about ASC's Board of Advisors here.
Does my phone or tablet have to be near the water? I'm afraid of it getting wet.
Your iOS device must be within wireless range of the iSwimbands at all time during monitoring (see above). However, you should be able to place your device in a dry protected area such as a table, chair or land and still be well within range. If you want to be in the water, we recommend using a waterproof case or adding a wireless outdoor Bluetooth-compatible speaker to the system. The case will protect your smart device from the elements, and pairing a speaker will provide a louder alert tone and can be placed closer to or even in the water.
See our Accessories page to learn more or purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Will my children wear a headband while swimming?
We've heard that question before from adults, and the answer is that thousands of children have been wearing our headbands at our commercial installations for years with very little pushback reported. Unlike adults, children are much more receptive to the exciting new world of wearable technologies.
Plus, compared to a bicycle helmet for example, iSwimband is much less invasive and much more comfortable. Yet it provides a safer experience for an activity (swimming) which is statistically much more dangerous than bicycling.
Finally, we believe that dedication to a child's safety ultimately rests in the hands of their parents and caregivers. The decision to wear or not a wear iSwimband should be yours and not the child's.
Learn more about this concern here.
Is iSwimband safe for my kids to wear? What about radio waves?
iSwimband has an effective range of up to 100 feet or more. However, environmental circumstances such as walls, steel structures, and others may have an adverse impact on distance, as is the case with today's radio frequency communications.
Always confirm that the wireless range is capable of covering the entire area (water) being monitored prior to using the system. Always maintain a clear "direct line of sight" between the device and iSwimband.
Note: Always maintaining a "clear direct line of sight" is the correct supervision protocol for visually monitoring swimmers and people around water whether using iSwimband or not.
You can also extend the range of your system by using additional phones or tablets via WiFi. Learn more here.
> As a precaution, if your smart device moves out of range of the iSwimband(s) being monitored, the iOS device will sound an alert.
How long does the battery last? Can I change it myself?
How many iSwimband sets do I need for each person I want to monitor?
What is the range of an iSwimband?
Do I have to use an iPhone or iPad with iSwimband, or can it work without one?
How did you come up with the suggested time limits for swimmers to be submerged?
How many iSwimbands can be monitored? Is there a way to add more?
Yes. Attach the iSwimband wristband to your pet's collar and choose the non-swimmer preferences in our app. If at any time your pet enters the water, the app will alert you immediately.
Note: We are currently working on a new design to clip the small iSwimband sensor to pet collars.
Can iSwimband be used with pets?
Perhaps, at least initially. However, the "fun" of doing so should wear off soon (particularly at your direction). In any case, breathholding underwater should be strongly discouraged or prohibited. Breathholding contests have been responsible for many drowning deaths, often called "Shallow Water Blackouts". Learn more about this type of risk from our friends at SWBP.
Can I buy iSwimband in different colors?
Won't using iSwimband motivate my kids to hold their breath underwater to test it?
Yes. iSwimband is very safe to use.
We utilize very low-power Bluetooth technology, often referred to as BTLE or Smart Bluetooth. The signal emitted from iSwimband's sensor is transmitted at 2.4 GHz, which is the same as a cordless phone, however it is much less powerful. Because of this, you could compare the iSwimband signal to about 1% of the strength of a cordless phone's signal. If you would like to read more about the specifics regarding these types of radiation, there are many resources online. A place to start would be this study of the effects of much stronger signals from Princeton University.
No. After you have paired iSwimband sensors to your iOS device, our app will automatically recognize them. The only step you need to do before monitoring is to activate each iSwimband sensor, which takes only a few seconds.
Click here to see Owner Manuals for more details.
Do I have to set up the system each time I use iSwimband?
One set is required per individual or pet to be monitored. iSwimband comes with a small waterproof sensor and both a headband for swimmers and a wristband for non-swimmers such as toddlers. The small sensor is placed in either, and can also be placed in the pocket of non-swimmers.
See various ways to set up your iSwimband system here.
Yes. The free companion app enables you to name each iSwimband sensor and assign it preferences, primarily time limits. You can change these preferences at any time.
The iSwimband sensor contains a fixed battery which is not user-replaceable at this time. The life of the battery will enable hundreds of hours of active monitoring. While we project at least one year or more of use*, the actual life of your iSwimband sensor will depend on how often it is used and for how long.
> As a precaution, the iSwimband app will notify you if it detects that an iSwimband battery is low.
My iSwimband sensor is new, but the app says the battery is at 90%. Why?
Your battery is new. However, it will take a few minutes of use for the app to accurately determine the actual battery level once it has been paired with a sensor for the first time.
Yes, absolutely. Please check back with this website, and like us on Facebook to stay up to date.
Are you planning an Android or Windows version?
Each iSwimband must be connected to either an iPhone 4s+, iPod Touch, or iPad 3+ for active monitoring and alert notification.
Does using iSwimband drain my phone's or tablet's battery faster?
iSwimband uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) which, as the name implies, uses very little power. However, like any connected accessory that requires an active app, monitoring iSwimbands will put a slightly greater drain on your device's battery. Therefore, we strongly recommend checking your device's battery and/or charging it before or while actively monitoring.
> As a precaution, the iSwimband app will notify you if it detects that the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch battery is low.
Sorry, not at this time. However, we are planning to make them available in the near future. Please check back with this website, and like us on Facebook to stay up to date.
We always watch our children around water. Why would we need to use iSwimband?
Even when diligent supervision is present, drowning can still occur. Distractions such as sun glare, loud sounds, conversations, and fatigue can cause a caregiver to overlook an event. In addition, detecting a drowning is very difficult, even for trained individuals. It happens in seconds, is typically silent, and without any noticeable behavior. To reduce the risk of an event being missed, iSwimband was designed to detect a potential drowning and alert you immediately so that you can investigate and intervene if necessary.
Think of using iSwimband in terms of driving a car: You always drive safe, but it is still smart to wear a seatbelt just in case.
Still have a question? Contact Us.
NEVER LET ANYONE SWIM ALONE REGARDLESS OF SWIMMING ABILITY!
Each iOS device (iPhone 4s +, iPad 3+, iPod Touch 4+) can monitor up to eight iSwimbands. If you include an optional wireless speaker, your limit would be reduced to seven iSwimbands, and so on. If you use a second iOS device with our app, such as another iPhone or iPad, you can increase the number of monitored iSwimbands accordingly.
You can also add compatible iOS devices to be used as additional monitors via WiFi when available. For example, one person can be actively supervising the swimmers by the pool and a second non-active individual can monitor swimmers from a remote location, such as inside the home.
See examples of how you can expand your iSwimband system here.
Can iSwimband be used with a mask and snorkel?
iSwimband can be used with a mask. However it is not applicable to swimmers using a snorkel. iSwimband measures the duration of time that a swimmer's face is fully submerged and therefore unable to breathe. When using a snorkel a swimmer's face can remain submerged beyond the preset time limit, causing a false alert.
The iSwimband app is free, and can be downloaded from the App Store.
Where can I get the iSwimband App? How much does it cost?
I've lost my Owner Manual. Where can I get one?
Important: iSwimband is not a water detector. It is a swimmer immersion detector. It will only work correctly in larger containers of water such as a typical bathtub or bodies of water such as pools and lakes.
Click here to see or download our Owner Guides.
How does iSwimband work?
iSwimband is a small, low power wireless sensor that is worn either as a headband or a wristband. The sensor is paired with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled smart device running the free iSwimband app. When both the sensor and app are activated, the app continually monitors the status of the sensor. If the app determines that the sensor has been submerged into water (not simply wet), or submerged for a (user-adjustable) dangerous period of time (typically 20s-30s), it notifies the caregiver via audiovisual alerts before the event can turn tragic. Learn more about time parameters we recommend here.
See video demonstrations here.
Yes. Your information is always secure. iSwimband utilizes a secure bi-directional handshaking mechanism to ensure the device on both ends are authorized connectable devices. It also protects against replay attacks for those trying to impersonate a valid device utilizing a Bluetooth Smart sniffer.
Is iSwimband's wiressless communication secure? I don't want my smart device hacked.
Can iSwimband be used to locate a submerged individual, such as in a lake or pond?
No, not at this time although we do expect to make this capability available in future versions.
During the setup process I enter the correct ID code on the sensor, but the app tells me the code is invalid. What do I do?
When entering the sensor's unique ID number, enter only the last 6 alpha-numeric digits and not the entire number.
Click here to see Owner Manuals for more details.
Always pay strict attention to whereabouts of any person in or near the water!
*Based on an iSwimband sensor activated for four hours every other day. Source: Swimband Power Consumption Report, January 2014
I'm having a problem activating the iSwimband sensor. What should I do?
Here's a quick video of an alternative method to activate your iSwimband sensor:
Can I assign names and preferences for each iSwimband?
Will I need to always be looking at my phone or tablet? Shouldn't I be looking at my kids around water?
Yes, you should always be looking at children around water. There is no need to constantly keep your eyes on your phone or tablet. The iSwimband app will alert you with an attention-getting audible alert even if you happen to be using another app. Click on the icon to hear the alert:
While the only requirement is that you must be within listening distance from your device, you can also use linked speakers to insure that the alert can be heard. To see recommended accessories to expand your system, click here.
Sorry, not at this time. However, we are planning to make them available in the near future. Please check back with this website, and like us on Facebook to stay up to date.
Can I purchase additional iSwimband sensors?