Is my child safe in a hot tub? – is a very common (and genuine) concern of every parent. Most hot tub owners are concerned about their child’s safety, and rightfully so. Are hot tubs meant for children’s use? Can I bathe my child in a hot tub? Is the heat of the hot tub too much for a kid? Is there a drowning hazard for children in hot tubs? Questions like these may come to your mind, and you feel unsure about owning a hot tub in Ottawa. We are here to answer all your troublesome questions today and ensure you feel safe about your children using a hot tub. Let us dive in and understand the pointers written below.
3 Ways to Ensure Child Safety Around Hot Tubs
1. Consider the Temperature of the Hot Tub
First, consider the hot tub’s temperature before you welcome your child to it. The CPSC has recorded several deaths due to children drowning in extremely hot water ( 110°F). High temperatures can easily cause drowsiness, which may lead to children fainting and dying in the hot tub. Additionally, increased tub temperatures may cause heat stroke or cause burns on the child. Nowadays, there are user-friendly remote controls that help users set the desired temperature to ensure the water in the hot tub is not too warm for children.
The ideal temperature for most hot tubs in Ottawa is 104°F. Try and ensure you do not exceed this temperature. When you have children in the hot tub, ask them if they feel comfortable being in the tub. If you sense they are uncomfortable, let them out of the hot tub immediately.
2. Be Mindful of Accidents
As per the records of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), one of the most common hot tub accidents is drowning. Drowning is more common among children under the age of five. Most times, the parents and children are too overwhelmed to understand that the intensity of water in the tub is not safe for their kids. CPSC suggests that hot tubs in Ottawa must be secured with a safety lock when not in use, and children below the age of 10 must be kept away from the tubs. Drowning is not the only hazard you must be cautious of. Several accidents happen in a hot tub. The accidents are:
- Long hair getting sucked in hot tub sprays or whirlpool
- Dangerous games like “hold your breath the longest” have been a reason for mishaps
- Clothes getting stuck in the drain or sprays
- Increased temperatures cause burns to children
- Getting hurt by slipping in the tub
The CPSC has come forward with a voluntary standard for drain covers that reduces the mishap of hair entanglement. The guidelines advise consumers to ensure the tubs have drain covers that meet the user’s safety standards. For safety, you must stick adhesive stickers at the bottom of your hot tub in Ottawa to ensure the children or adults do not slip in the tub and hurt themselves. If your hot tub drain cover is missing or damaged, we advise you not to use your hot tub until the cover is repaired.
3. Never Leave Children in the Hot Tub Unguarded
Lastly and most importantly, never leave behind your young ones in the hot tub alone. You never know what problem may arise when you are not there. Whenever your kids enjoy the hot tub, we advise the adults to supervise the children. Also, since the little ones have minimal body control over themselves, spas may turn unsanitary almost immediately. You must be mindful of such issues.
When children grow tall enough, they must not use a hot tub in Ottawa for more than five minutes in one session, especially when operating at a maximum temperature of 104°F. Young children are advised to avoid complete body immersion and instead use the “jumping seats” towards the side that allow waist-high immersion. You may drop the water’s temperature to 98 degrees to prepare for longer soaks — but never get over 15 minutes in a session.
Where to Find Hot Tub Installation in Ottawa?
If you want to install a hot tub in Ottawa with a unique design and the best in-built features, you should only trust the craftiness of Land-Con experts. We are a highly renowned hot tub installation company in Toronto with over 25 years of expertise in creating premium-quality hot tubs in Ottawa. Our installers are well-trained, dedicated, and well-equipped to deliver a flawless hot installation in Ottawa. Contact us today at 905-503-0049 or drop a mail at sales@northernspas.ca.
