Your spa or hot tub can be the focal point for happy entertaining. Plan ahead to prevent accidents and injuries, and make your entertaining truly enjoyable.
Your family and guest are likely to be intrigued by your new spa or hot tub. Before they go in – and especially if it is their first time in a hot water facility – explain the safety precautions. Point out how to enter it and where the seats are located.
Food and drink play an important part in your entertaining. Establish an area away from the spa or hot tub for refreshments to prevent accidental slips or falls caused by spills near the spa or tub on the deck, and to prevent debris from falling into the facility.
More likely than not your guest will be barefooted while near the spa or hot tub. Use only unbreakable dishes, beverage containers and utensils. Never use glass anywhere near the spa or hot tub. Broken glass is invisible in water and extremely difficult to get out of the support system.
Keep electrical appliances a significant distance from the spa or hot tub. Don’t use extension cords. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on any appliance that must be near the spa or hot tub. Where possible, use battery operated appliances around the spa or hot tub. Electrocution from appliances and telephones in contact with water is a real danger.
If you use your spa or hot tub at night, provide adequate lighting around the facility.
Alcohol consumption and spa and hot tub activities do not mix. Alcohol acts as a depressant. It can “slow you down” because it affects the part of the brain, which exercises restraint and control. Alcohol can instill false courage or “bravado,” leading people to try things they normally would not. Therefore, persons who have been drinking alcohol should not be allowed in the spa or hot tub, and should be carefully supervised in the surrounding area.
Prescription medications sometimes cause drowsiness or have other side effects. If you are taking prescription medicine, check with your doctor before using the spa or hot tub.
Never allow anyone who has been drinking alcohol or using drugs to go into the spa or hot tub.
Do not allow running on the deck or area around the spa or hot tub, as injuries may occur from slips and falls.
If your spa or hot tub is out doors, stay out of it during lighting or rainstorms, because of the possibility of electrocution from the lightning hitting the water. You have the bottom line responsibility in entertaining. Use good judgment to Spa Drowning Prevention Tips.
Drowning prevention information is not “for someone else.” It is for you. Because only by increased awareness and effort can we reduce some very alarming statistics. Drowning is one of the largest causes of accidental death for American infants five and under.
Children are naturally attracted to spas and hot tubs. To prevent drowning and other serious injuries, you must keep children away from spas and hot tubs in the absence of adequate supervision. Here are some safety tips that can help save young lives. For more information, write for brochures entitled “Children Aren’t Waterproof” and “Layers of Protection” from the National Spa & Pool Institute, 2111 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Never leave a child alone out of eye contact supervision in or near the spa or hot tub – not even for a second.
Remove vegetation and other obstacles to assure a clear view of the spa or hot tub from the house.
Make certain that all doors leading from the house to the spa or hot tub area are kept shut and latched. Make sure any latches or doorknobs are above the reach of toddlers to protect against unauthorized entry and use. Limit access to the spa or hot tub by locking doors or gates whenever soaking cannot be supervised.
A fence, wall or natural barrier shall completely enclose your spa or hot tub.
If you use a spa or hot tub cover, carefully read the manufacturer’s directions for safe use. Always completely remove the cover before using your spa or hot tub. Drain any standing water from the surface of your spa or hot tub cover (e.g., by using a water pump). Even a small amount of water may be sufficient for an infant or small child to drown. Be especially alert for potential drowning accidents if you use any lightweight, floating spa or hot tub covers. These are not safety covers and no one should walk or crawl on them.
Do not place objects (e.g., chairs or tables) near the spa or hot tub fence that could allow a youngster to climb over.
Never use a spa or hot tub if any of the grate outlets are missing or broken to avoid body entrapment.
Keep toys, particularly tricycles or wheel toys, away from in ground spas or hot tubs. A child playing with these could accidentally fall into the water.
Do not allow anyone of any age to soak without a; spotter” nearby. Examples of good safety behavior by adults are important for young children.
Do not permit playful screaming for help (false alarms), which might mask a real emergency.
Never consider young children water-safe despite their swimming skills, previous instruction or experience. Many professionals warn that these lessons made provide a false sense of security to a child’s family and not actually prepare a child for surviving a true emergency.
Find out some tips and secrets about your hot tub / spa as well as how to fix some common problems.