More People Being Hurt in Hot Tub Accidents, Study Shows

Slips and falls, burns from water that is too hot, near drownings, and other accidents involving spas and hot tubs are on the rise, a new study shows.

An analysis of hospital emergency room visits between 1990 and 2007 found the number of nonfatal accidents in hot tubs, whirlpools, and spas jumped about 160 percent, from 2,500 in 1990 to about 6,600 in 2007, according to the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

People over age 17 were more likely to be involved in such accidents, but near-drownings and other more serious types of injuries most often involved younger children, the study found. Cuts or lacerations to the feet, legs, and head were the most commonly seen injuries. Most people in the study said they injured themselves in slips and falls in the water, a WebMD report says.

Despite stringent efforts by governmental regulators and the spa industry, accidents still happen and more must be done to protect users, officials said.

“Although some steps have been taken to make hot tubs safer, increased prevention efforts are needed,” study author Lara McKenzie, the center’s principal investigator and a faculty member of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, said in a written statement.

Hot Tub Safety Tips

The study’s authors encouraged hot tub users to follow these safety precautions in an effort to reduce the skyrocketing rate of spa-related injuries:

• Put slip-resistant surfacing in and around the hot tub

• Limit time and temperature of hot tub exposure to 10 to 15 minutes at no more than 104° F

• Comply with suction cover standards

• Parents should keep hot tubs covered and locked when not in use, consider installing a fence or barrier around the area, and set rules prohibiting jumping and diving

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