If you have a hot tub out on your deck, you may be looking forward to the upcoming cooler weather of autumn to spend evenings relaxing in steaming luxury. But many dangers lurk in that 100°+ water, from infections to exacerbation of existing health conditions to drowning.
Bacterial Infection
The warm water and air temperatures in and around hot tubs are the perfect breeding ground for a nasty little bacterium known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. If the disinfectant levels in your hot tub dip even slightly, your soak could turn ugly. P. aeruginosa can cause a skin infection commonly known as “hot tub rash” (a form of folliculitis) that often shows up as a red rash along the skin along the edges of your bathing suit. Expect some pus-filled blisters in that area as well. As if this weren’t bad enough, the steam rising from your hot tub may contain the deadly bacteria that cause Legionnaire’s disease and “hot tub lung” (a form of tuberculosis), as well as ear and eye infections.
Overheating
Staying in a hot tub too long, or juicing up the water temperature too high results in several cases of heat exhaustion every year. Not only does this often result in fainting and emergency room visits, but passing out when alone in an overheated hot tub can lead to drowning.
Dehydration
You may think that soaking in a tub full of hot water will hydrate your skin and body. However, the hot water actually dries out your skin, particularly if you relax in the hot tub with an alcoholic beverage. If you have medical conditions such as hypertension or heart disease, you may want to avoid hot tubs. The hot water and steam may raise your blood pressure enough to cause a stroke.
Slip/Falls
Nearly half of all hot tub injuries are the result of slips and falls. Not only does falling in a hot tub often result in head injuries, but it is a significant cause of hot tub drowning deaths as well. Stories of hot tubbers misjudging the location of the steps are common, and alcohol consumption is often a factor.
Pregnancy Dangers
The high water temperatures in a hot tub have the potential to cause birth defects in a fetus, particularly during the first trimester. And if you’re trying to get pregnant, you may want to be aware that men who soak too long in a hot tub may experience a precipitous drop in sperm count, negatively affecting fertility.
Children
The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that about 90% of hot tub fatalities involve children under the age of 3. A primary cause of hot tub deaths among children is getting hair caught in an exposed drain. The suction of a hot tub drain is so powerful that nearby adults may be unable to extricate a child’s hair, forcing the child to remain underwater until he or she drowns. Be sure to keep kids away from hot tubs with broken or missing drain covers, and know where the circuit breaker off-switch is located in case of an emergency.
