Confessions of a ThermoSpas Employee

Having a hot tub is a wonderful addition to your home and your life but it’s very important to be mindful of safety issues related to owning and using a hot tub.  Here are some basic tips to follow when using your ThermoSpas hot tub:

Keep the cover closed and locked when the spa is not in use.
This will keep unsupervised children from playing in your spa as well as keeping debris and animals out of your hot tub. You should never leave an open hot tub spa unattended. Always use a locked safety cover when the spa is not in use.  Make sure that the spa cover straps are tight enough to prevent a child from slipping under. Make sure your spa cover is in sound condition. Replace if necessary.  As an added precaution, consider installing a pair of extra tie-down straps for more security.

Children and Infants
Children and infants should be introduced into the hot tub or spa slowly to give them time to adjust to the change in temperature and to alleviate fear or discomfort.
NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES leave children unattended in hot tubs, spas or pools. Even shallow ones pose a drowning hazard, and even a few moments alone is too long. Better safe than sorry is a good rule to tub by!

Pregnancy
Pregnant women should not enter a hot tub or spa without first consulting with their physician and following their doctor’s advice.

Do not use alcohol or drugs while in your hot tub spa.
The use of alcohol, drugs or medications can greatly increase the risk of hyperthermia.  Hyperthermia is the opposite of hypothermia, and it occurs when the internal body temperature reaches a level several degrees above normal body temperature (98.6°F). The symptoms of hyperthermia include dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, lethargy and an increase in the body’s internal temperature. If you are on medication, consult with your physician before using a hot tub. The effects of hyperthermia may include:
• Unconsciousness
• Physical inability to exit the spa
• Failure to recognize impending hazard
• Failure to recognize the need to exit the spa
So do yourself a favor and save the cocktails for after the hot tub and make me one while you’re at it

Water Temperature
Soaking for too long in elevated water temperatures can raise body heat to hazardous levels. The National Spa and Pool Institute considers 104° F to be the maximum safe water temperature for adults and ThermoSpas are set at the factory to not exceed that limit.
A safe soaking time should not exceed 15 minutes. Some medical authorities have recommended a lower maximum temperature of 100° to 102° F. They advise that since infants and children are more sensitive to heat, they should be exposed to water of not more than 95° F, for no more than 10 minutes. Consult with your family doctor.
Persons with heart disease, diabetes, high or low blood pressure, or any other serious illness should not enter a spa or hot tub without first consulting with and obtaining the advice of a physician.

Electrical Devices
NEVER handle a corded phone, radio, TV, hair dryer or any other electrical device while you are around spas or pools, in contact with water, when hands or feet are wet, or when barefoot.
Locate all electrical outlets a safe distance away from your spa or hot tub as specified in local building codes. Keep electrical devices away from the water, and never place them on the spa edge. If an electrical appliance should fall into the water, or be touched by a bather, electrocution could result.

Maintain Sanitizer & Water Balance
Do not enter a hot tub unless you know that the sanitizer level is adequate to keep the water healthy and free of harmful microorganisms.  Maintaining the Total Alkalinity (TA) and pH for proper water balance and regularly shocking of the water will make your sanitizer much more effective in controlling bacteria.

Chemicals & Spa Supplies
Chemicals, additives and cleaning compounds are best kept in a cool, dry and well ventilated location, away from direct sunlight and out of the reach of children. Read and follow all directions on chemical labels.  As a rule, spa chemicals should not be mixed together prior to addition to the water. Dissolve dry chemicals one at a time in a plastic bucket of clean water, then pour into the hot tub. This will also prevent damage to the shell from direct contact of un-dissolved granules.

So follow these tips to stay safe and enjoy endless amounts of fun in your ThermoSpas hot tub!