Hot tubs can get a bit of a bad rap. When it comes to children being safe around a hot tub, it certainly is possible, but there are a few reasons that parents express their concerns about hot tub safety. It is understandable that parents have their concerns, but with a few little tips, you will be sure to keep your children safe in and around hot tubs.
Risks for Children
Hot tubs can be dangerous when precautions aren’t taken. Some of the most common risks associated with hot tubs for children include:
- Drowning: Even in a tiny amount of water, there is a risk of
- Overheating: Small children can’t regulate their body temperatures as well as adults, so they are at risk for overheating in hot water.
- Jet and Drain Injuries: The jets and drains in the hot tub can snag hair. Children may also put their fingers in the jets and drains, which could lead to injuries.
- Falls: If children are running, playing, or climbing, in, on, or near a hot tub, they could slip and fall into the water. This could cause injuries or lead to drowning.
Now, just because there are risks doesn’t mean you should swear off hot tubs forever. There are ways that you can keep your kids safe when they are going to have access to a hot tub.
1. Talk to Your Kids About Hot Tub Safety
It seems simple, but before your kids are allowed to be near a hot tub, have a conversation with them about hot tub safety. This is the time that you can establish a list of rules with your children, such as never go into a hot tub without an adult present. Much like the rules that you will find posted at a public swimming pool, these rules can prevent accidents and injuries that are common in hot tubs. Be sure that you aren’t scaring your children, but instead, explain all of the risks and how to prevent them.
2. Supervise Children When Near a Hot Tub
As an adult, you will want to watch children when they are playing in or near a hot tub. There is a potential risk of injury and drowning, so it is important that there is an adult nearby to manage any situations that may arise. You can even tell your children not to get in a hot tub without adult supervision.
Learning CPR may also help you feel more comfortable allowing your children near hot tubs with supervision. This way, you can help in an emergency situation. It is also a good idea to always have a phone nearby when children are near a hot tub or pool.
As you supervise your children near the hot tub, you can also ensure that they aren’t running near the tub or playing and climbing on the hot tub, which could cause them to slip or fall.
3. Lower the Water Temperature
One of the main risks that children face in hot tubs is overheating, because hot tubs can reach up to 104°F. Children are more sensitive to heat than adults, so if you are going to let your children in a hot tub, you should consider dropping the temperature to 95°F or lower. This will make the hot tub much safer for kids, and it will be more comfortable for them to sit.
Even at lower temperatures, caution is needed. Be sure that your children are drinking plenty of water while they are in the hot tub to avoid dehydration.
4. Don’t Let Children Play Under the Water
Hot tubs aren’t swimming pools and playing under the water in a hot tub can be dangerous. Hair can easily get caught in spa jets or drains, while children are swimming in the hot tub. Once hair is caught, children may not be able to free themselves and come up for air.
Kids also have a tendency to put their fingers in the drains and jets, which not only could cause injuries, but it could also get them stuck and trap them under the water. For these reasons, it is a good idea to make a rule against swimming in a hot tub.
5. Get a Spa Cover and Keep It Locked
If you don’t have a hot tub cover, it is time to buy one. Not only do spa covers keep debris out of your hot tub, but they can also prevent accidents near the hot tub. Once you have a spa cover, you will want to get a lock for it to prevent anyone you don’t want to give access from hopping in the hot tub without warning.
6. Buy a Drain Cover
Even with a rule that prohibits swimming in the hot tub, it is a good idea to get a drain cover that will help minimize the risk of hair getting sucked into the suction drain. When paired with the rule you have put in place, your child is less likely to have problems getting their hair caught in the drain of your hot tub.
7. Know Where the Cut-Off Switch is Located
Just in case there happens to be an emergency, you will want to know where the cut-off switch is located on your hot tub. You can also educate everyone else in your household and any visitors who will be using the hot tub on where the switch is and how to turn the hot tub off. This knowledge could help you or someone else save a life.
While it is impossible to prevent 100 percent of accidents, a little education on safety measures can help prevent most accidents. Give yourself the peace of mind of knowing that your children know how to stay safe near hot tubs. Well-educated kids are much less likely to be hurt near or in a hot tub.