Hot Tub Safety
Young children should not use a hot tub or spa because of the dangers of extremely warm water and the potential for drowning. In fact, the main hazard from hot tubs and spas is the same as that from pools—drowning. Since 1980 there have been more than 700 reported accidental deaths in spas and hot tubs; about a third of those were children under age five. For this reason, consumers should keep a locked safety cover on the spa whenever it is not in use and keep children away unless there is constant adult supervision.
The design of older spas and tubs caused numerous drownings by entangling hair in drains or entrapping body parts in the equipment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) helped develop standards to prevent hair entanglement and body part entrapment in spas, hot tubs, and whirlpools. These standards should help prevent deaths and injuries. Consumers should fix their old spas, hot tubs, and whirlpools with new, safer drain covers.
Hair Entanglements
There have been 49 incidents and 13 deaths since 1978 caused by having a person’s hair sucked into the suction fitting of a spa, hot tub, or whirlpool, holding the victim’s head under water. Hair entanglement occurs when a bather’s hair becomes entangled in a drain cover as the water and hair are drawn through the drain. In some incidents, children were playing a “hold your breath the longest” game, which allowed their long hair to be sucked into the drain.
The CPSC helped develop a voluntary standard for drain covers that helps reduce the risk of hair entrapment, and consumers should be sure they have new drain covers that meet this standard. If there is any doubt, a pool or spa professional can check the spa. A child should never be allowed to play in a way that could permit the child’s hair to come near the drain cover. If a drain cover is missing or broken, the spa should be shut down until the cover is replaced.
Body Entrapment
Since 1980 there have been 18 incidents in which parts of the body have been entrapped by the strong suction of the drain of pools, wading pools, spas, and hot tubs. Of these, 10 people were disemboweled and five others died.
The CPSC helped develop a standard requiring dome-shaped drain outlets and two outlets for each pump, which reduces the powerful suction if one drain is blocked. Consumers with older spas should have new drain covers installed and may want to consider getting a spa with two drains.
Hot Tub Temperatures
There have been several reported deaths from extremely hot water (about 110°F) in a spa, which can cause drowsiness and unconsciousness. In addition, high body temperature can lead to heat stroke and death.
As a result, in 1987 new laws required temperature controls to make sure that spa water temperatures never exceed 104°F. Pregnant women and young children should not use a spa before consulting a physician.
Skin Infections
Skin infections can be spread by contaminated hot tub and spa water. Because hot tubs and spas have warmer water than pools, chlorine or other disinfectant levels evaporate faster. For that reason, it is important that chlorine or disinfectant levels in hot tubs and spas be checked even more regularly than in swimming pools.
Safety Precautions
The following safety precautions are recommended when anyone uses a hot tub, spa, or whirlpool:
• A locked safety cover should always be used; young children should be kept away from spas or hot tubs unless there is constant adult supervision.
• The spa must have dual drains and drain covers as required by current safety standards.
• A professional should check the spa or hot tub on a regular basis and make sure it is in good, safe working condition, and that drain covers are in place and not cracked or missing.
• Homeowners should know where the cutoff switch is located for the spa pump so it can be turned off in an emergency.
• No one should use the spa while drinking alcohol.
• The water temperature in the spa should be at 104°F or below.
The design of older spas and tubs caused numerous drownings by entangling hair in drains or entrapping body parts in the equipment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) helped develop standards to prevent hair entanglement and body part entrapment in spas, hot tubs, and whirlpools. These standards should help prevent deaths and injuries. Consumers should fix their old spas, hot tubs, and whirlpools with new, safer drain covers.
Hair Entanglements
There have been 49 incidents and 13 deaths since 1978 caused by having a person’s hair sucked into the suction fitting of a spa, hot tub, or whirlpool, holding the victim’s head under water. Hair entanglement occurs when a bather’s hair becomes entangled in a drain cover as the water and hair are drawn through the drain. In some incidents, children were playing a “hold your breath the longest” game, which allowed their long hair to be sucked into the drain.
The CPSC helped develop a voluntary standard for drain covers that helps reduce the risk of hair entrapment, and consumers should be sure they have new drain covers that meet this standard. If there is any doubt, a pool or spa professional can check the spa. A child should never be allowed to play in a way that could permit the child’s hair to come near the drain cover. If a drain cover is missing or broken, the spa should be shut down until the cover is replaced.
Body Entrapment
Since 1980 there have been 18 incidents in which parts of the body have been entrapped by the strong suction of the drain of pools, wading pools, spas, and hot tubs. Of these, 10 people were disemboweled and five others died.
The CPSC helped develop a standard requiring dome-shaped drain outlets and two outlets for each pump, which reduces the powerful suction if one drain is blocked. Consumers with older spas should have new drain covers installed and may want to consider getting a spa with two drains.
Hot Tub Temperatures
There have been several reported deaths from extremely hot water (about 110°F) in a spa, which can cause drowsiness and unconsciousness. In addition, high body temperature can lead to heat stroke and death.
As a result, in 1987 new laws required temperature controls to make sure that spa water temperatures never exceed 104°F. Pregnant women and young children should not use a spa before consulting a physician.
Skin Infections
Skin infections can be spread by contaminated hot tub and spa water. Because hot tubs and spas have warmer water than pools, chlorine or other disinfectant levels evaporate faster. For that reason, it is important that chlorine or disinfectant levels in hot tubs and spas be checked even more regularly than in swimming pools.
Safety Precautions
The following safety precautions are recommended when anyone uses a hot tub, spa, or whirlpool:
• A locked safety cover should always be used; young children should be kept away from spas or hot tubs unless there is constant adult supervision.
• The spa must have dual drains and drain covers as required by current safety standards.
• A professional should check the spa or hot tub on a regular basis and make sure it is in good, safe working condition, and that drain covers are in place and not cracked or missing.
• Homeowners should know where the cutoff switch is located for the spa pump so it can be turned off in an emergency.
• No one should use the spa while drinking alcohol.
• The water temperature in the spa should be at 104°F or below.
Tags: accidental deaths, dangers of extremely warm water, Hot Tub Safety, pools, potential for drowning, spa
Posted in Health and Wellness
Comments (2)
wow thank you for the information
allan’s last blog post..Assembly Tutorial
Yeah, my husband and I have been deciding if we should get one. We have a toddler and are a little concerned about the risks. I think that we will still get one, but make sure we get a locking cover.