Hot Tubs: How to Play It Safe

by Mary Butler

Hot tubs aren't swimming pools, but they can be just as deadly. Water safety should always be a priority when you own a hot tub or home spa. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there have been more than 800 drowning deaths in spas and hot tubs since1990; about one-fifth of those deaths were of children under 5.

Here are several important tips to help keep your home spa the safest it can be:

• Lock a safety cover on your spa when it's not in use.
• Never allow children in a hot tub unsupervised. When children are in the hot tub, supply them with water wings or other devices to keep them easily afloat.
• Keep your hot tub's temperature no higher than 104 degrees. Extremely hot water can kill. Pregnant women and young children should be cleared by a doctor before using a hot tub.
• Use drain covers that prevent hair entanglement. Be sure your hot tub's drain covers meet the voluntary CPSC standard, which is designed to reduce the danger of hair entanglement and subsequent drowning.
• Use dome-shaped drain outlets designed to prevent body part entrapment. The strong suction of drains--particularly if one drain is blocked--can trap body parts.
• Know where the "cut-off" switch is for your hot tub pump so you can turn it off in an emergency.
• Schedule regular professional check-ups for your spa or hot tub to ensure it's working correctly and that your spa's drain covers are in place and in good condition.
• Install your hot tub to meet local building codes, which are designed and written with safety in mind.
• Consuming alcohol while using a home spa puts you more at risk for drowning. Make sure that you and your guests drink responsibly.