The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
helped develop standards to prevent hair entanglement
and bodypart entrapment in spas, hot tubs, and whirlpools.
These standards should help prevent deaths and injuries.
Consumers should fix their old spas, hot tubs, and
whirlpools with new, safer drain covers. CPSC warns about
these hazards:
- Drownings -- The main hazard from hot tubs and spas is
the same as that from pools - drowning. Since 1990, CPSC
has reports of more than 800 deaths in spas and hot tubs.
About one-fifth of those were drownings to children under
age five. Consumers should keep a locked safety cover on
the spa whenever it is not in use and keep children away
unless there is constant adult supervision.
- Hair Entanglement -- Since 1990, CPSC has reports of 43
incidents (including 12 deaths) in which people's hair was
sucked into the suction fitting of a spa, hot tub, or
whirlpool, causing the victim's head to be held under water.
Hair entanglement occurs when a bather's hair becomes
entangled in a drain cover as the water and hair are drawn
through the drain. In some incidents, children were playing
a "hold your breath the longest" game. Permitting their long
hair to be sucked into the drain. CPSC helped develop a
voluntary standard for drain covers that helps reduce the
risk of hair entrapment. Consumers should be sure they
have new drain covers that meet this standard. If you are
not sure, call a pool or spa professional to check the spa.
Never allow a child to play in a way that could permit the
child's hair to come near the drain cover. If a drain cover is
missing or broken, shut down the spa until the cover is
replaced.
- Bodypart Entrapment -- CPSC knows of 74 incidents
since 1990 in which parts of the body have been
entrapped by the strong suction of the drain of pools, wad-ing
pools, spas, and hot tubs. Of these, two resulted in dis-embowelment
and 13 other people died. CPSC helped
develop a standard requiring dome-shaped drain outlets
and two outlets for each pump. This reduces the powerful
suction if one drain is blocked. Consumers with older spas
should have new drain covers installed and may want to
consider getting a spa with two drains.
- Hot Tub Temperatures -- CPSC knows of several deaths
from extremely hot water (approximately 110 degrees
Fahrenheit) in a spa. High temperatures can cause drowsi-ness
which may lead to unconsciousness, resulting in
drowning. In addition, raised body temperature can lead to
heat stroke and death. In 1987, CPSC helped develop
requirements for temperature controls to make sure that
spa water temperatures never exceed 104 degrees
Fahrenheit. Pregnant women and young children should
not use a spa before consulting with a physician.
CPSC recommends these safety precautions when using a hot tub, spa, or whirlpool:
1. Always use a locked safety cover when the spa is not in use and keep young children away from spas or hot tubs unless there is constant adult supervision.
2. Make sure the spa has the dual drains and drain covers required by current safety standards.
3. Regularly have a professional check your spa or hot
tub and make sure it is in good, safe working condition,
and that drain covers are in place and not cracked or
missing. Check the drain covers yourself throughout
the year.
4. Know where the cut-off switch for your pump is so you can turn it off in an emergency.
5. Be aware that consuming alcohol while using a spa could lead to drowning.
6. Keep the temperature of the water in the spa at 104 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
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