Protect toddlers from drowning with AI-powered video analysis

Regardless of my profession, I am above all a mother. And like other parents, I know: You can’t be with your child every second. Sometimes you’re sitting on the toilet, or you’re in the shower – grateful for a brief moment of peace. Maybe you’re cooking because otherwise hunger turns into a diva. And like all other parents, I trust in these moments that somewhere a guardian angel is watching over our little darlings – especially with the things that are often underestimated in everyday life. But with each summer, you are painfully reminded that it is not so.
Then you read those articles again, which repeat every year – and yet never wear out:
A toddler has drowned in their own pool.
Very close to the parents. Very quietly. And much too quickly.

Systems can save lives

Fortunately, there are now technologies that can help, at least in public swimming pools. Simple sensors that detect movements or pressure changes in the pool are often used there. Large swimming facilities can now also rely on complex systems like AI-supported drowning detection solutions. The principle sounds promising: Cameras monitor the pool continuously. The AI analyzes movements and raises an alarm if it detects that a person remains motionless for too long or shows typical patterns of a drowning process. Such systems can save lives – in swimming pools where many people swim, where lifeguards are present. Because even the most advanced AI systems have difficulty recognizing real drowning situations. Why? Real drowning cases are fortunately rare, but that is precisely what makes it difficult for AI to “learn” them. People who are drowning do not thrash, do not call out, do not wave. Especially small children simply – quietly – fall into the water and go under. There are hardly any recognizable movement patterns that can be reliably evaluated with AI.

A toddler can become unconscious in less than 30 seconds

And another thing: Sensors and AI detection have one thing in common, they only sound the alarm when the child is already in the water. And that’s exactly where the problem lies: The moment a toddler falls into the water, the race against time begins. A toddler can become unconscious and drown in less than 30 seconds. Why so quickly? Because children, especially under five years old, have a much higher oxygen consumption per kilogram of body weight than adults. Their brains work more intensively, grow faster, and their entire metabolism is in high gear. At the same time, they have smaller oxygen reserves and less lung volume, which means they cannot hold their breath for long. When breathing stops and no more oxygen reaches the blood, the oxygen level in the brain drops rapidly. After about 2 minutes, sensitive brain areas, especially those for consciousness, movement, and memory, begin to suffer permanent damage. After 4 to 6 minutes, massive cell death occurs in the brain.

The simple but effective solution: Prevention through virtual security zones

Instead of relying on complex motion analysis in the water, our solution takes a much simpler, more reliable approach by intervening beforehand. The camera draws an invisible digital fence about one meter around the pool. This so-called safety zone is monitored with the help of Vaidio, our AI-based video analysis platform. As soon as a child enters this area, the AI recognizes it through facial recognition. This brings two major advantages: First, the system knows exactly which child it is – even if they are barefoot, have wet hair, or are in swimwear. Second, clear rules can be set to avoid unnecessary alarms. For example: Only if the child enters this area alone, without you or another supervisor, should a message immediately appear on your phone or the smart home trigger a warning. This happens exactly then – and before anything happens. Not only when the child is already in the water.

Conclusion: Safety begins before the first step into the water

No system in the world can relieve us parents of our responsibility – but technology can help us intervene precisely when it really matters. The sad truth is: many accidents happen not because no one was there, but because no one knew in time that something was happening. And that’s exactly where our solution comes in. Instead of reacting when it’s already too late, our system protects proactively. It detects when a toddler enters a dangerous area alone – and warns before the child is in the water. An invisible guardian angel that can be installed. For all the moments when we’re not looking.