Is the Hot Tub Safe????

After learning about the swimmings pools at recreational facility, I think all of us will think twice about swimming. WAIT, what about the Hot?? You'd think that the Hot is 100 times better than a pool because it has jets that relax one's muscles, as well as the hot water. Right? Well that's wrong!!


The same measures, and more should be considered for the hot tub. Users should be informed that HOT stands for Heed, Observe, and Talk.


Heed...hot tub rules for safe and healthy usage. 
1. Please refrain from entering a hot tub if you have diarrhea.
2. Avoid swallowing water.
3. Shower and bath before entering the delightful relaxing hot water.
4. Please- NO children under the age of 5 years old. Parents, we know that you have children. However, please be considerate of others while they relax.
5. Avoid drinking alcohol before and while entering the hot tub. This increases your BAC level. 


Observe...and listen to the hot tub and it's surroundings
1. Is there oder? If there's a strong sent of a chlorine, then there are maintenance problems.
2. Are there smooth hot tub tiles? Slippery or slimy tiles tell users that the hot tub is dirty.
3. Make sure that the hot tub equipment is working properly. You should be listening to the running pumps.
4. The temperature should be 104 degrees Fahrenheit. 
5. Check the water to make sure that the chemical level is 2-4 parts per million.


Talk... to hot tub owners/staff and other users.
1. What were the inspection levels for the last hot tub check up?
2. Are the checkups occurring while the hot tub is typically used?
3. Are staff available during weekends?
4. What type of training is required for staff in order to make sure that the hot tub water is clean?


HOT stands for more than just heated water that relax every muscle in the body. Therefore, consider all of these questions before entering a hot tub in the future. Especially since summer is right around the corner. 

Pool Etiquette in Motion

Imagine yourself on the beach or at local water park, laying in the sun while reading your favorite book. You're thinking that after a very stressful week at school or work that laying in the sun is the perfect form of meditation. What feels like a few minutes turns into an hour, and your book is getting more intense as you read on. Your keep reading to find out who killed Mr. Smith, and all of a sudden a little boy walks by you and releases a silent fart. Inches before the murder is revealed, you get a whiff of the smell and immediately loose your concentration. As you glance up, there is a little boy that is doing the potty dance, while cramping his stomach because the chili cheese hot dog gave him indigestion problems. The smell gradually worsens as the seconds pass by, and you begin to think about the blog that referred to Healthy Swimming. If only people were aware of the the Triple A's of Healthy Swimming. 

In those regards, The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention enlightens readers that we need to be Aware, take Action, and Advocate a better swimming environment.In order to raise Awareness, we should follow The Six Steps of Healthy Swimming. These are guidelines that are stated in my earlier post; Tips for the Pool, and are directed towards all swimmers and parents of children.  Next, we have to take Action. We need to the take it upon ourselves to check the pool before we enter. In fact, we should test the water using test strips to make sure that the chlorine level is between one and three parts per million, and the pH level is between 7.2 - 7.8 (CDC, 2010). We should also take it upon ourselves to ask the operators questions that include when the water was last tested and what the inspection score was (CDC, 2010). Lastly, we need to Advocate healthy swimming by encouraging pool operators or directors to increase protection in waters, and decrease the spread of germs (CDC, 2010).  Swimmers could advocate that the recreational center should order ultraviolet or ozone technology as a form of pool treatment, and use a stronger chemical, such as Hyperchlorinate, to kill germs in chlorine (CDC, 2010). Likewise, societal member, who are informed about RWIs, can educate others and bring it to their attention (CDC, 2010).  

Envision yourself back at the pool:

"Calling all attendants on the pool deck: Please apply the Triple A's of Healthy Swimming, and be an active member in promoting healthy swimming." As the announcement passes, you  feel more at ease on the pool deck, and resume to your high intensity, mystery novel to find out who killed Mr. Smith.  


The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Triple A's of healthy swimming. Retrieved March 7, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/triple-a-healthy-swimming.html

Tips For the Pool

Summer, what a wonderful time! There are countless activities that we do to keep ourselves busy. For instance, there are water parks, pools, tanning, reading, hanging out with friends, shopping, etc. Despite all these activities,  going to the pool, beach, or local water park seems to be the best option on these high temperature, summer days. Including myself, I love to go the pool and lay out in the sun to get that bronze color. However, we fail to realize that the water can be carry diseases. Thus, individuals, including myself, have to be aware and conscious of Healthy Swimming. For a better description, The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has mutliple articles on Healthy Swimming; specifically an article that states six tips for healthy swimming. 

Healthy Swimming are the behaviors that protect swimmers from recreational water illnesses (RWI), and help stop germs from entering the pool. To prevent RWI's, members who attend water facilities should follow a series of steps to achieve healthy swimming. First, you shouldn't swim when you have diarrhea, because germs can spread in water and cause swimmers to be ill. Second, swimmers should avoid swallowing water. Third, you should practice good hygiene, and shower with soap before entering the pool to prevent the spread of germs. I never understood why I had to shower before entering the pool, but it is clear to me know that is one step of healthy swimming.  

Moreover, parents with young children should also follow a series of guidelines. First, parents ought to have bathroom breaks for their children. If a parent or guardian waits until their child says, "I have to go potty" then it may be too late. Second, diapers should be changed in the bathroom, not on the deck. This also prevents germs of spreading. Lastly, hygiene for children is vital. Parents ought to wash their child thoroughly, including their behind. For instance, there invisible fecal matter can end up in the pool if a child is not bathed before entering the pool. 

Now that we, participants of water facilities, are informed of healthy swimming, we can enjoy ourselves in the company of loved ones. We can swim, play water basketball, splash, and  lay out in the sun, while preventing germs from spreading. 


The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Six steps of healthy swimming: protection against recreational water illnesses (RWIs). Retrieved February 27, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/six-steps-healthy-swimming.html