FACTS

1. Drowning and Near-Drowning: This is the most serious risk associated with pools and hot tubs. Guests, especially children or non-swimmers, are at risk of drowning or near-drowning incidents if left unsupervised or if safety measures are not strictly enforced.
2. Slips and Falls: Wet areas around pools and hot tubs can be extremely slippery, leading to falls that can result in injuries ranging from minor bruises to serious fractures or head injuries.
3. Water Quality: Improperly maintained pool or hot tub water can lead to various health issues, including skin irritations, infections, or even outbreaks of waterborne illnesses if the water is contaminated.
4. Heat-related Illnesses: In hot tubs, especially, there’s a risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion, particularly if guests stay in the hot water for too long or if the water temperature is set too high.
5. Chemical Exposure: Pools and hot tubs require chemicals to maintain water quality, but improper handling or incorrect levels can cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation among guests.
6. Electrical Hazards: There’s a risk of electrical shock in and around pools and hot tubs if electrical installations are not properly maintained or if electrical equipment comes into contact with water.
7. Entanglement and Entrapment: There’s a risk of entanglement or entrapment from pool or hot tub drains if they are not properly covered or if guests’ hair, limbs, jewelry, or bathing suits get caught.

STATS

• The National Safety Council highlights the importance of water safety, noting that drowning can happen quickly and silently. In the United States, an average of about 10 people die from drowning every day, excluding boating incidents.
• Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in Canada, particularly among children and young adults. According to the Lifesaving Society Canada, an average of 441 people die from drowning annually in Canada, with an additional 140 hospitalized due to non-fatal drowning incidents.
• According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 300 people die every year from hot tub-related accidents, with children under 5 accounting for nearly one-fifth of all drownings.
• About half of the injuries were caused by slipping or falling, while heat overexposure was the problem in 10 percent of the accidents, and near-drowning in about 2.5 percent.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports more than 700 hot tub deaths in a relatively short span of years, and with the recent surge in hot tub popularity due to the COVID lockdowns, the risk of injuries from hot tubs increases.