May 2012
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5 Tips for Planning the Season’s First Pool Party
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It’s Pool Season, But Don’t Forget about Your Hot Tub
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Pool Safety: 7 Essential Tips
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Pool Workouts: Start Slow, Stay Strong
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Spa owners everywhere truly enjoy a relaxing soak or two in their hot tub throughout the week. But before you dip your toe in the water, make sure you familiarize yourself with the basic safety measures that will ensure a healthy and fun spa experience.
“Hot tubs are a great addition to any home, as they can help you relax or connect with friends,” says Kathleen Carlson, SVP of Aqua Quip, Seattle and chairman of the board for the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP). “But like any product, spas can be abused, and you always want to use your spa in the best and safest manner.”
To keep your spa time enjoyable, consider these seven common safety concerns and the simple solutions that can help you steer clear of them:
1. Prevent hair and body entrapment
Spa drains that haven’t been updated to the latest safety standards can trap long hair and body parts due to suction, sometimes resulting in injury or drowning. Spas manufactured prior to 2008 do not come with drain covers, which makes suction entrapment a risk, says communications specialist Kathleen Reilly, Pool Safely campaign leader for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Solution: According to Reilly, spa owners should update their hot tub to be compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which sets safety standards for drain covers. Bathers also should tie their hair back or refrain from submerging their head underwater, says Jerry Pierrottie, EHS manager for Arch Chemicals. “If submerging beneath the surface is absolutely necessary, be sure someone is near the off button for the pumps in case of an emergency.”
2. Don’t drink and soak
Adults often like to enhance their relaxation time by enjoying an alcoholic beverage while soaking in the hot tub. However, mixing alcohol with high spa temperatures can lead to dehydration and hyperthermia, Pierrottie warns. “The spa’s heat can intensify the effects of alcohol on the body, leading to too high of a state of relaxation or even unconsciousness,” he says.
Solution: Refrain from consuming even one alcoholic beverage while in the water. “Spas are relaxing enough,” Carlson says. “You do not need to add drinking alcohol.”
3. Waterproof your music player
Having your personal music player near the water increases the risk of irritation, or even electrocution. “Water and electronics do not mix,” Pierrottie says.
Solution: No matter how much you want to listen to your music, eliminate the risk of electrocution by keeping all electronics away from the water’s edge, Pierrottie says. Many newer spas even come with built-in media systems, or you can purchase a waterproof system for your existing spa. “These built-in waterproof media systems are very safe because of the stringent safety standards all modern hot tubs must abide by,” Carlson says. At the very minimum, invest in a waterproof covering for your media player, Pierrottie says.
4. Do not use the spa while pregnant
As body temperature approaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit, it poses increased health risk during pregnancy that may even result in birth defects.
Solution: Pregnant women should consult their physician for the appropriate precautionary procedures, Pierrottie says. The same rule applies for individuals suffering from any type of health condition. Remember that spa water temperature must ever exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit for all individuals under any circumstances.
5. Watch your step
The combination of wet feet and smooth surfaces can make getting in and out of your hot tub a little slippery.
Solution: Spa owners should have at least two steps, as well as handrails, to prevent injury from slipping and facilitate safe entry into the hot tub, Pierrottie says. Investing in a rough texture around the spa, such as grit decking or mats that increase traction, will also help decrease the risk of slips and falls.
6. Water-related illnesses
Water-related illnesses, such as hot tub rash or respiratory trouble, are common when water is not properly balanced and sanitized, Pierrottie warns.
Solution: One way to tell that chemical levels are appropriate is to check that the water is crystal clear, Carlson says. Maintaining proper pH, total alkalinity, water hardness, and disinfectant levels is an essential part of keeping spa users safe and healthy. While proper chemical levels vary by spa, Pierrottie recommends 2 to 4 PPM for chlorine, 4 to 6 PPM for bromine and 7.2 to 7.8 for a spa’s pH level. If you have any questions about balancing your spa water, be sure to contact your local dealer.
7. Dehydration
It can be counterintuitive to consider the risk of dehydration while soaking in water, but the high temperature of spas inevitably increases your core body temperature, which can result in dehydration or heat stroke.
Solution: Avoid dehydration and heat stroke by limiting your time in the spa to 15 minutes maximum, Pierrottie says. It is a standard that spas never exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. “Dip your toe in the water before entering to make sure the spa is not too hot,” Carlson recommends.
Remembering these basic precautions will help you have a safer and more enjoyable spa experience. Pierrottie also says to encourage safety by adhering to the buddy system and posting these safety measures near your spa. “Too often, spa owners get caught up in the excitement and fun of the spa and neglect thinking about safety,” he says.
