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Pool & patio

2007-11-01 10:18:00

Do not share hot tubs

Imagine living on the first floor of a five-story apartment building and people above you took showers and baths and passed down the water. Apart from filtration and treatment, this water is essentially the same as in a shared hot –tub. According to CDC, favorable temperatures and readily available food make hot tubs ideal places for bacteria to grow and spread. Dead skin, hair, sweat, fecal material, algae and dirt provide waterborne germs with constant nourishment. A poorly maintained hot tub is fertile breeding ground for germs that cause Legionnaire’s disease, Hot tub lung, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, Pontiac fever, skin and eye irritations. Powerful pumps, jets and misters generate small water droplets (aerosols) that can easily find their way into your lungs. Moreover, the warm water opens up your skin pores giving germs yet another avenue to enter your body.

Hot tub Water Treatment.

Many people get sick from using poorly maintained hot tubs and some infections tend to be life long. Untreated hot tubs are health hazards not only to the immediate user but also innocent bystanders. Fine water droplets produced by powerful jets and misters can become airborne and easily find their way in unsuspecting victims. Such cases occur especially in cruise ships. It is therefore important to stay on top of your water treatment process at all times.

Filtration

Filtration is the process of removing particles from the water. Even in the best-maintained hot tubs, filters tend to have heavy infestation of germs. In a tub with poor filtration, no amount of chemicals will keep the water sanitary. Dead algae and germs provide food and shelter for others to emerge. A hot tub’s filter captures many of the nasty stuff and the bigger the better. If you go shopping on busy day and only a single cashier is open, it may take forever to go through the check out. Multiple or bigger filters will remove more particles faster and easier and improves the health and safety of your hot tub.

Tips to avoid getting sick from a hot tub. Keep your hot tub covered: The hot tub cover prevents debris from getting in water, reduces water and energy loss and is important in drowning prevention.

Take a shower: Offload sweat, lotion, body oils, shampoo that would otherwise end up in your hot tub.

Test the water: Adjust water chemistry before using the tub; never assume the water is good.

Clean and replace filters: Your filters are the most important component of your tub. Regular cleaning and replacement ensures your filtration is working at peak performance.

Install an automatic spa sanitizer, UV system or a good ozone generator. These systems sanitize water 24/7 helping you maintain a safer hot tub while saving you time and money.

Do not share your hot tub: If you would not wear someone’s dirty underwear, why would you want to share your hot tub? Relaxing in a hot tub is personal and is a private matter.

Do not eat or drink while soaking: Moisture containing germs will easily contaminate your food or drink. Moreover, food particles end up in water encouraging germs to grow.

Avoid using public hot tubs. Many public hot tubs even in five star hotels and medical centers meet only the minimum standards required by the city. Most of these standards are outdated and do not address emerging health threats such as cryptosporidium, Legionella and Giardia.

Do not linger around Hot tubs: At parties, tradeshows or on a cruise avoid spending time where hot tubs are running. Legionnaire’s disease has well been documented to infect numerous people in such situations.

Be proactive: If hydrotherapy is part of your medical treatment, ask for the water testing information or better yet use your own test strips to check the water. In fact the CDC encourages swimmers to use their own test strips to check the condition of the water.