Hot tubs also known as spas are equipped with drains and pumps that can create a powerful suction that can be dangerous. It can especially be dangerous if you have long hair, it can possibly get tangled in the drain – keeping your head stuck under water. To avoid this and to ensure your safety at all time, keep your hair up and your head above the water.
Always Supervise Children
Adults must watch children carefully in any water situation, but especially when in the spa due to the dangers such as the suction and the temperature of the spa. If any children especially small children want to use the spa, make sure to join them in the spa to ensure there safety. When the spa is not being used, make sure to always cover the spa to prevent any unsupervised use.
Children shouldn’t be allowed in the spa until they can stand on the bottom of the floor and have their head completely out of the water. You should limit any children’s use, who can stand in the spa under 5 minutes at a time. If they want to spend more than 5 minutes at a time, you can lower your spas temperature to 98 degrees and they can enjoy the spa up to 15 minutes at a time.
Infants and toddlers should not be allowed in a spa as babies thin skin can make them more susceptible to overheating. Also, since infants or toddlers have little control over body functions, spas become unsanitary instantly if accidents happen.
Is It Dangerous to Stay in a Hot Tub Too Long?
Your normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees. Hot tub water ranges anywhere from 100 degrees to 104 degrees. If you stay in the hot tub for too long, you can raise your temperature above 98.6 degrees. Essentially if you stay in the hot tub for too long, you can cause you body to have a fever. This will result in dizziness, higher blood pressure, nausea, and possibly losing conscience. Extended fever can result in long term damage such as organ and tissue damage, heart attack, stroke and possibly death.
Keep The Hot Tub at a Safe Temperature
It can be very tempting to crank the heat up in your hot tub, but raising the temperature too high can cause your body heat to rise to dangerous levels. The maximum recommended safe temperature is between 100 degrees and 102 degrees and a maximum of 15 minutes of use. If you want to use the hot tub for longer than 15 minutes, turn down the heat even more.
Hot Tubs During Pregnancy
Should you go in a hot tub while pregnant? It is not recommended that pregnant women use hot tubs during pregnancy due to some studies that have shown an increased risk of birth defects. A safer way to relax is to have a hot bath because most of your upper body will be out of the water which will make you much less likely to overheat.
If you still want to use a hot tub, here are hot tub safety tips you can use to reduce your risk. You can lower the hot tub temperature and limit your use to 10 minutes or less. You can also monitor the temperature of the hot tub to make sure your body temperature avoids overheating.
What are the Dangers of Hot Tubs?
Hot tubs can provide an environment for bacteria to grow. This bacteria can make you sick with either an infection or disease. You can control and remove the bacteria in your hot tub by maintaining your disinfectant level of the water. If you are ever unsure if the water is safe or not, don’t enter the hot tub if you have any doubts.
Be Careful with Alcohol
Many people think the thought of sipping on a glass of wine or a cold beer will help them relax more. However, you need to be very careful as hot water can amplify the effect of alcohol, the same goes for prescription drugs. To be safe during hot tub use, consider trading that alcohol for a nice refreshing juice or sparkling water.
