Consumer Product Safety Alert

FROM THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20207

S p a s , Hot Tu b s , and W h i r l p o o l s

009611

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

helped develop standards to prevent hair entanglement

and bodypart entrapment in spas, hot tubs, and whirlpools.

These standards should help prevent deaths and injuries.

Consumers should fix their old spas, hot tubs, and

whirlpools with new, safer drain covers. CPSC warns about

these hazards:

Drownings — The main hazard from hot tubs and spas is

the same as that from pools - drowning. Since 1980, CPSC

has reports of more than 700 deaths in spas and hot tubs.

About one-third of those were drownings to children under

age five. Consumers should keep a locked safety cover on

the spa whenever it is not in use and keep children away

unless there is constant adult supervision.

Hair Entanglement — Since 1978, CPSC has reports of 49

incidents (including 13 deaths) in which people’s hair was

sucked into the suction fitting of a spa, hot tub, or

whirlpool, causing the victim’s head to be held under water.

Hair entanglement occurs when a bather’s hair becomes

entangled in a drain cover as the water and hair are drawn

through the drain. In some incidents, children were playing

a “hold your breath the longest” game. Permitting their long

hair to be sucked into the drain. CPSC helped develop a

voluntary standard for drain covers that helps reduce the

risk of hair entrapment. Consumers should be sure they

have new drain covers that meet this standard. If you are

not sure, call a pool or spa professional to check the spa.

Never allow a child to play in a way that could permit the

child’s hair to come near the drain cover. If a drain cover is

missing or broken, shut down the spa until the cover is

replaced.

Bodypart Entrapment — CPSC knows of 18 incidents

since 1980 in which parts of the body have been

entrapped by the strong suction of the drain of pools, wading pools, spas, and hot tubs. Of these, 10 resulted in disembowelment and 5 other people died. CPSC helped

develop a standard requiring dome-shaped drain outlets

and two outlets for each pump. This reduces the powerful

suction if one drain is blocked. Consumers with older spas

should have new drain covers installed and may want to

consider getting a spa with two drains.

Hot Tub Temperatures — CPSC knows of several deaths

from extremely hot water (approximately 110 degrees

Fahrenheit) in a spa. High temperatures can cause drowsiness which may lead to unconsciousness, resulting in

drowning. In addition, raised body temperature can lead to

heat stroke and death. In 1987, CPSC helped develop

requirements for temperature controls to make sure that

spa water temperatures never exceed 104 degrees

Fahrenheit. Pregnant women and young children should

not use a spa before consulting with a physician.

CPSC recommends these safety precautions when

using a hot tub, spa, or whirlpool:

1. Always use a locked safety cover when the spa is not

in use and keep young children away from spas or hot

tubs unless there is constant adult supervision.

2. Make sure the spa has the dual drains and drain covers required by current safety standards.

3. Regularly have a professional check your spa or hot

tub and make sure it is in good, safe working condition,

and that drain covers are in place and not cracked or

missing. Check the drain covers yourself throughout

the year.

4. Know where the cut-off switch for your pump is so you

can turn it off in an emergency.

5. Be aware that consuming alcohol while using a spa

could lead to drowning.

6. Keep the temperature of the water in the spa at 104

degrees Fahrenheit or below.