Hot Tub - Safety

Safety

Sitting in water above normal body temperatures can cause drowsiness which may lead to unconsciousness and subsequently result in drowning. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that water temperatures never exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature of 100 degrees is considered safe for a healthy adult. Soaking in water above 102 degrees Fahrenheit can cause fetal damage during the first three months of pregnancy.

It is also recommended to install residual-current devices for protection against electrocution. The greater danger associated with electrical shock in the water is that the person may be rendered immobile and unable to rescue themselves or to call for help and then drown.

Between 1980 and 1996, the CPSC had reports of more than 700 deaths in spas and hot tubs, about one-third of which were drownings to children under age five. In the same period 18 incidents,were reported to the CPSC involving body part entrapment. To reduce the risk of entrapment, US safety standards require that each spa have two intakes for each pump, reducing the amount of suction. From 1999 – 2007 there were 26 reports to the CPSC concerning circulation entrapments hot tubs and spas, including three deaths.