Child Safety Around Hot Tubs

So, after long hours of planning, and thinking, and saving, you are finally getting a hot tub. It is a wonderful thing to purchase, and will no doubt give you many years of relaxation and enjoyment. But you do have one, small problem, or maybe two or three small problems - children. While children are a blessing, they can also be a handful. How do you make sure your children are safe around your new, very expensive toy?

While nothing is one hundred per cent safe, there are a few simple yet useful, things you can do in order to ensure safety. The best idea is to build a fence around the hot tub itself. This will deter young ones who may not fully understand the danger a four-foot deep pool of water can pose. Barring that, make sure you get a high quality hot tub cover that is tested to hold more than three hundred pounds. Even the largest of small children are not heavier than that, so should they accidentally fall onto the cover, the cover will still keep them safe and out of the water.

Should you be unable to build a fence around the entire hot tub, at least build a small fence around the hot tub equipment. Since most hot tubs require a deck built around them, it should be no trouble to get a small, fenced in area built as part of it. This will help keep sensitive equipment away from tiny, curious hands.

The other aspect of the hot tub you should be aware of is safety while in the hot tub. The number one thing to remember is that hot tubs are not the same things as swimming pools. While small children may be able to jump into them, horseplay should be avoided as much as possible, lest the child hit their head on something and cause themselves injury. As well, children cannot withstand extreme temperatures as long as adults can, so the supervising adult should make sure that they do not stay in too long. The general rule of thumb is ten minutes per year of age.

Thankfully, child safety is not very difficult. It simply requires a little forethought, and good old-fashioned parenting. Keep an eye on your children, make sure they understand that the new toy can be very dangerous, and take a few easy steps to child proof the place. This way, both the new hot tub, and your small bundle of joy and mischief, will be safe and sound.