Go gadgets:Aquabeat and Safety Turtle
From www.speedousa.com, €95 plus postage
IF YOU'RE getting fit for summer with mind-numbing laps of the local pool, you might appreciate Speedo's new waterproof MP3 player, the Aquabeat. With the right music, it'll make 20 laps seem like 10, and might distract from your burning lungs and shoulders.
The speakers are concealed inside waterproof earbuds that will tuck under a latex swim cap.
The lightweight player holds 250 songs, the rechargeable lithium batteries last for nine hours and, like most MP3 players, it can be recharged through your computer's USB port. Volume and playlist controls are designed for underwater operation.
It is available in three colours and even floats, for easy retrieval if you drop it in the pool.
Safety Turtle
From www.selfcatering.ie, €199
AN IRISH OPERATOR of holiday villas, Selfcatering.ie, is distributing a waterproof alarm called the Safety Turtle. It's comprises a colourful wristband, which you can lock to your child's wrist, and a base station that will sound an alarm when the band is submerged; the shrill alarm can be heard 500m away, say the distributors, and will not turn off until reset. It won't sound if merely splashed and does not work with sea water. Selfcatering.ie says the Safety Turtle is an extra layer of protection, not a replacement for parental supervision. Multiple wrist bands can work with the same base station.