There’s nothing quite like relaxing in warm, swirling water while enjoying a glass of your favourite tipple.
But did you know that there are dangers that might turn a blissful dip into a personal health crisis?
Britain is now ranked within the top ten of the ‘world hot tub market’, with one in 10 households in Britain boasting an outdoor spa.
Hot tubs can cost between £2,000 and £20,000 to buy - but hiring them is increasing in popularity too.
Paul Abbott is a senior water treatment consultant at Hydrochem UK, based in Hartlepool, and he’s warning people to take care and be aware of the health risks associated with home hot tubs.
He said: “Most of the time people are buying or hiring a hot tub without realising the dangers that are associated with them.
“The bubbling water which is kept at a high temperature puts high demand on the hot tub’s filtration system which can lead to a rise in bacterial growth.
“Inadequate water quality management can put hot tub users at risk of illness, including Legionnaires’ disease which can be potentially fatal.”
But there are ways to reduce the risk.
He said: “Before using a home hot tub it is vital that people familiarise themselves with the safety instructions in terms of treating the water and using the correct type and amount of chemicals.
“We would recommend that the water be tested daily with chemicals and treating with appropriate sanitisers to ensure that balance is kept right.
“I must strongly advise that the chemicals used in hot tubs can be extremely dangerous if not handled correctly and good hot tub conditions are not easy to maintain.
“Most pools and tubs use chlorine or bromine, which have links to causing asthma and can be carcinogenic, as they release harmful by-products that can be inhaled or absorbed.
“There are a number of basic precautions that users should be taking, but when the drinks are flowing and everyone’s having a good time, they are often forgotten about.
“For example, hot tub users should be showering before they get in the water and again once they get out to ensure that bacteria isn’t left sitting on your skin which can help to colonise the spa.
“Another reason why you should definitely shower before entering the tub is that the average bather has around a gram of faeces in their gluteal fold which then obviously ends up in the water.
“Imagine you have five or six people in the hot tub at once, not a nice thought at all. When urine and other waste, such as sweat, mixes with chlorine, it creates an irritant called chloramine, which is what causes red, stinging eyes when swimming. So it’s really important to not use the hot tub as a toilet."
Paul talks about a Teesside example of where a hot tub could have contributed to a potentially deadly condition.
He said: “We were asked to carry out water tests on a hot tub belonging to a gentleman who had spent a week in a coma after picking up an unknown bug.
“He had started out with a sore throat which quickly turned in to a virus. He was quickly admitted to hospital after rapidly deteriorating.
“The water that we tested identified an amount of bacteria that was completely off the scale.
“It turned out that the hot tub had been standing for only a couple of days and the gentleman had taken jumped straight in without testing the water or adding any sanitiser.
"The likelihood is that his mystery bug was linked to the water in his hot tub.”
Paul’s Top Tips
• If you’re hiring a hot tub, when it arrives make sure it is a commercial not domestic model as these are more robust and less prone to damage from being transported around.
• Check that it is visibly clean and that you have been provided with clean filters and a chemical disinfectant to keep the water safe and more importantly adequate instruction as to how to use it. This is crucial.
• I would recommend that a hot tub be used for no longer than 10-15 minutes at a time as staying or bathing in hot water for a long time can cause severe heat-related illnesses, such as nausea, dizziness or fainting.
• Hot tubs are not recommended for children under five to use as small children have a different body temperature regulation system and can’t cope with the heat.
• Do not exceed the maximum number of people permitted as this can put strain on the tub and chemical and filtration system which can result in illness from contact with the bacteria.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke in the tub as food and drink are potential nutrients for bacteria and being drunk in a tub can put you in danger of drowning.
• Shower before and after using the hot tub and dry your ears to prevent infection. Hot tubs and spas can harbour bacteria that can make you very ill or that can even be fatal.
The two main bacterial problems encountered are:
This is the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
It’s a severe form of pneumonia and symptoms of the disease include high fevers, muscle aches, tiredness and headaches. It can be fatal.
It thrives in water between 20-60 degrees.
People can get Legionnaires’ disease when they breathe in small droplets of water in the bubbles that contains the bacteria, you don’t even need to get in the water.
The people most at risk for contracting Legionnaires’ disease are those with weakened immune systems, as they have little defence against the onset of infection.
People with weakened immune systems and those who are over the age of 65 have a greater risk of infection.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can result in an infection called Pseudomonas folliculitis, or ‘hot tub rash.’
An infection of the hair follicles, commonly seen in people who bathe in a contaminated spa or hot tub.
It comes in the form of itchy bumps and puss filled blisters around the hair follicles.