6.1.12

Hot Tub, Spa: Dangerous Place To Stay

A hot tub provides health benefits. But this might not always be the case. Reports have shown that hot tubs come out as one of the many dangerous places to stay. In the span of 18 years, 1990-2007, approximately 80,000 and more people were injured in hot tubs and spas. Roughly, 74 percent of the accidents took place at home then seriously landed in an emergency room.

Based on the information gathered by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, injuries rise in hot tubs. A quarter of the injuries concerned children under the age of 16. Fatal accidents were not included in the study. However, there was a report from the Consumer Products Safety Commission that there have been more than 800 deaths since 1990. Almost 90% of that report point toward children under the age of 3.

The researchers from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, headed by Lara B. McKenzie studied the data and found that from 1990 to 2007 hot tub accidents are notably rising from 2,549 in 1990 to 6,646 people in 2007.

Approximately half the injuries were owing to falling. 10% was for heat overexposure and near-drowning got the 2.5 percent. Roughly 7 percent of the accidents ended in a hospital.

Dr. McKenzie said, “You should only use the hot tub for 10 to 15 minutes, and the temperature should be no higher than 104 degrees.” Another precautionary measure to consider is to cover the hot tubs with hot tub covers that have safety lock features. Seek assistance from the authority in the spa accessories if you want to make sure your love ones are safe while in the hot tub.

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