I could hear my mom’s voice as I walked toward our neighborhood pool. She once told me that I could drown in a teaspoon of water. This fact may sound absolutely absurd but the truth is that a teaspoon of water in your lungs can do a lot of damage. When it comes to safety, hot tubs are often overlooked because looking at them they don’t seem to be that dangerous! After all, they are much smaller than a pool! Yes, but let us recall that one fact about the tablespoon of water! Regardless of the amount of water, water is water and safety should be one of the top priorities for any spa, hot tub, or pool owners! Here are a few basic safety tips that will help keep your hot tub bathers safe!

Eight Hot Tub Basic Safety Tips

1. Set your hot tub temperature on low for kiddos! Most hot tubs are preset to go up to 104 degrees but for children, you should keep the temperatures below 100 degrees. Ideally, the best temperature setting for children is 98 degrees.
2. Never allow your children in the hot tub unsupervised. Most drownings happen within five minutes of unsupervised activity. This applies to adults as well! 
3. Stay hydrated! This safety tip applies to everyone! Hot tubs are notorious for being hot and heat is notorious for making people sweat! This is ideal for getting rid of toxins out of your body which is great for your body! But with all of that sweating and heat…you can easily dehydrate! Don’t forget to rehydrate!
4. Set a timer! It’s important to limit the amount of time that your kids are in the hot tub. Pediatricians agree that children should not exceed 20 minutes of soaking in hot tubs. Younger children should stay in the hot tub for an even shorter amount of time! Set a rule of 5-20 minutes in the hot tub and an equal amount of time outside of the hot tub. Even adults should be careful how long they spend in a hot tub.
5. The Center for Disease Control has advised that children under the age of five years of age should not use hot tubs. Always speak with your child’s pediatrician before allowing them to soak in the hot tub. 
6. All riders…I mean hot tub bathers…must be this tall. If your kids have passed the age requirement, its time to see if they are tall enough. Start by having your child stand in the deepest of your hot tub. If they can stand firmly on the floor of your hot tub and keep their head above water, they may be ready to start enjoying the hot tub!
7. After you have enjoyed your time in the hot tub, don’t forget to remove anything that may be tempting for a young child to retrieve later. 
8. Know where the shut-off switch is! In case of an emergency, knowing where the shut-off switch is crucial! Teach everyone who uses your hot tub where it is could save a life!

Have any more questions, concerns, or want more hot tub safety tips? Call one of our Leisure Works professionals today!