Hot tubs may seem like small pools that are perfectly safe for children, but that's not the case. Kids and spas, whirlpools and hot tubs don't make for a good mix. The dangers of hot tubs range from drowning to entrapment to overheating. So before you allow your kids to sink into that home spa, consider this. {relatedarticles}The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that there have been more than 700 deaths in the last three decades in spas. About one-third of those deaths were children under the age of 5. At least 49 people have had their hair sucked into the suctions of a spa that held the person underwater over the past year. Deaths have also been attributed to water temperatures exceeding 110 degrees. The hot water can raise body temperature, leading to stroke and death. Children exposed to high temperatures are also at risk for brain damage.
According CPSC, the water temperature in a spa should never go above 104 degrees. And children under the age of 5 should not be allowed in hot tubs because of the many safety risks associated with spas. {relatedarticles}Other risks include external ear infections that can be caused by microorganisms that grow in hot temperatures. If you allow your child to go into a hot tub, make it brief. To ensure that your child stays safe around spas, always keep a lid on it ... literally. Keep a safety lock on the spa so that kids cannot get in without adult supervision. Know where the emergency cut-off switch is in case you have to turn off the spa abruptly. Always keep an eye on the water temperature. Have your spa looked at for any safety issues.