Hot tub safety, rules and regulations

It is your responsibility to enforce the rules of safety.

Supervision is a key element in getting maximum and safe enjoyment from the hot tub. The supervisor must be thoroughly familiar with all facets of the safe operation and maintenance of the spa or hot tub. You will take responsibility for communicating safety information to all persons who enter the hot tub area. It is a good idea to designate a back-up for times when you are unavailable.

The supervisor is responsible for enforcing the ‘Hot Tub Rules and Regulations’. These are detailed below. These rules should be clearly communicated to and understood by all persons, young and old, who use the hot tub. You should consistently enforce these rules.

Hot Tub Rules & Regulations

• During pregnancy soaking in the hot tub may cause damage to the foetus so contact your doctor for advice before using a hot tub.
• Persons with heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, or any serious illness should not enter the hot tub without prior consultation with their doctor.
• People with skin, ear, genital or other body infections, open sores, or wounds should not use the hot tub because of the possibility of spreading infection or irritating the condition.
• Never use the hot tub while using or after using narcotics or other drugs that may cause sleepiness, drowsiness, or raise/lower blood pressure. The heat of the hot tub water speeds up the effects of alcohol and the ultimate danger of combined alcohol consumption and hot water soaking is drowning due to loss of consciousness, heart attack or injury due to passing out and falling. With any drug or medication, consult with your doctor about potential harmful effects from combined use of the drug and hot water soaking.
• Parents/carers are advised that the hot tubs are not suitable for children under the age of four. Never allow children to use the hot tub unsupervised and when not in use, make sure the cover is on and secured. Children enjoy playing in water and may not understand the risk involved. Discretion is advised in allowing children to use spas and hot tubs at all, since their young bodies may not adjust well to the high temperatures. If in doubt, check with your doctor. Warn children not to allow water into their mouths as this can cause infection and illness. If young children will be using the hot tub, explain to them that they cannot under any circumstances dive or jump into it. While a spa or hot tub may seem large and deep to a child, it is not designed for jumping, diving or underwater swimming. PLEASE ALSO READ THE SAFETY TIPS THAT CAN HELP SAVE YOUNG LIVES (below).
• You MUST shower with soap and water before and after using the hot tub. Showering before use washes away many of the common skin bacteria and removes lotions, deodorants, creams etc. which reduce the effectiveness of the spa sanitiser which disinfects the water. Wear suitable footwear to walk to and from the hot tub and brush off any debris from your feet before entering the hot tub.
• Never use the hot tub alone.
• Never use glass near/in the hot tub as broken glass is invisible in water and extremely difficult to remove from the support system.
• Do not use any electrical appliances near/in the hot tub. Electrocution from appliances and telephones in contact with water is a real danger.
• Avoid using the hot tub immediately after a heavy meal.
• Avoid entering the hot tub water immediately after exercising as the water temperature can affect the heart rate.
• If you use the hot tub at night, turn on the lighting around the facility.
• Do not allow running on the decking or area around the hot tub, as injuries may occur from slips and falls.
• Do not use the hot tub during lightning or rainstorms because of the possibility of electrocution from the lightning hitting the water.
• Before entering, look at the water in your spa or hot tub. Please contact the owner if you see any froth or water discolouration. If there is cloudiness or foaming, or if a ‘locker room’ or strong chlorine smell is present, the water needs treatment. Soaking in such water greatly increases your chances of getting a skin rash (pseudomonas). Call the property owner for guidance if you are in any doubt.
• Take care when entering and exiting the hot tub. Take it slowly and cautiously. Be careful of your footing and allow your body to gradually get used to the water temperature. Exit slowly because your leg muscles may be sufficiently relaxed and make you a bit unsteady, and you may become lightheaded.
• Soaking too long makes some people nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint. Do not soak for more than 15 minutes at one sitting in 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) water as extending this time can affect your inner organs and cause fever-like conditions. If you wish to soak for a longer period of time in high temperatures, leave the spa or hot tub after 15 minutes, shower, cool down and then return for another brief stay. In lower temperatures (e.g. 36-37°C or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit – normal body temperature), most people can comfortably and safely soak for longer periods at one sitting. If you have any questions about what’s right for you and your family, consult with your doctor.
• Do not immerse your head in the hot tub water. This increases the risk of infection and can heighten the dangers of drowning due to suction below the water line. Do not allow water to enter your mouth as this can cause infections and illness.
• Take care on the decking/hot tub steps as when wet they can become slippery.
• If any allergic reaction occurs leave the hot tub and rinse off in the shower. If the reaction persists, contact the owner or go to a local doctor or A&E.
• Do not try to adjust or touch equipment such as pumps, heaters, or electrical appliances while you are in the hot tub, or while standing in water, unless designed as such and recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not turn the hot tub isolation switch off as the hot tub’s power needs to be turned on to carry out the cleaning cycle.

If the hot tub needs to be shut down and emptied due to misuse, this will incur a charge of £100.

If any fault or damage occurs to the hot tub, please contact the owner immediately.

The hot tub is checked by the owner regularly.

SAFETY TIPS THAT CAN HELP SAVE YOUNG LIVES. PLEASE READ!

Drowning prevention information is not ‘for someone else’. It is for you. Only by increased awareness and effort can we reduce some very alarming statistics.

Children are naturally attracted to hot tubs. To prevent drowning and other serious injuries, you must keep children away from hot tubs in the absence of adequate supervision.

Never leave a child alone out of eye contact supervision in or near the hot tub – not even for a second.

Make certain that all doors leading from the cottage to the hot tub area are kept shut and latched when you are not supervising the hot tub.

Always completely remove the cover before using the hot tub. Drain any standing water from the surface of the hot tub cover. Even a small amount of water may be sufficient for an infant or small child to drown. These are not safety covers and no one should walk or crawl on them.

Do not place objects (e.g., chairs or tables) near the hot tub.

Never use a tub if any of the grate outlets are missing or broken to avoid body entrapment.

Do not allow anyone of any age to soak without a ‘spotter’ nearby. Examples of good safety behaviour by adults are important for young children. Do not permit playful screaming for help (false alarms), which might mask a real emergency.

Never consider young children water-safe despite their swimming skills, previous instruction, or experience. Many professionals warn that these lessons may provide a false sense of security to a child’s family and not actually prepare a child for surviving a true emergency.

If you are unsure of any person’s condition or abilities, prohibit them from using the hot tub. Remember, you are in charge of your facility.

If you have a question and would like to speak with us please call us on 01947 668 888, email us at enq@shoreline-cottages.com or send us a message via Live Chat.