Hot Tub Drowning (2024 Update)

Each year nearly one American drowns in a hot tub every day. Although not given media attention, hot tub drownings are more common than they may expect. If you have lost a loved one to a hot tub drowning or near-drowning, you should contact a walk-in tub and hot tub accident lawyer today.

What Makes Hot Tubs So Dangerous? 2024 Update

Drowning in a hot tub can occur due to several factors, including:

• Entrapment: The powerful suction from jets and drains can trap individuals, especially children.
• Heat-Related Issues: Extremely hot water can cause drowsiness, loss of consciousness, or cardiovascular complications.
• Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions can increase the risk of drowning, particularly in hot water.

To prevent hot tub drownings, it’s crucial to follow safety guidelines, such as using safety covers, supervising children closely, and maintaining proper water temperature.

Many people use hot tubs to unwind. Adding to the risk, many adults like to drink alcohol while soaking in a hot tub. When a person is inebriated, they may become overheated without realizing it. Given the heat of the hot tub and the consumption of alcohol, blood vessels dilate, which results in a drop in blood pressure. The sudden drop in blood pressure can cause a person to faint, which leads to drowning.

Deaths can also occur if a hot tub lid unexpectedly closes when someone is using the tub. These lids are very heavy, and a person may be unable to lift one up and free themselves.

Devastatingly, hot tub filters are notorious for trapping occupants. Since the purpose of the filters is to keep the tub water clean, they are strong. If an occupant’s hair gets caught in one of the filters, it may create a suction by sealing the drain. The occupant will have his or her head stuck underwater and drown.

Since 1978, 49 cases of people getting their hair stuck in hot tubs or pool drains have been reported. Of these 49 swimmers, 13 died.

What Age Groups are Most at Risk?

In children ages 1-4, drowning is the leading cause of death. Since children have limited experience in the water, they have not honed the skills needed to remain safe in the water.

73% of reported fatal drowning victims were children under the age of 5. Children under the age of 5 represent 80% of children who have been treated in emergency departments with a nonfatal hot tub or pool-related injuries.

Although children under the age of 5 are most at risk of drowning, kids under the age of 15 are also susceptible to near-drowning or drowning. From 2017 to 2019, there were 389 pool- or hot tub-related deaths. The pandemic has only exacerbated the issue, causing a 17% spike in drowning incidents from 2020 to 2022.

Where Do Most Hot Tub Drownings Take Place?

The majority of hot tub drownings occur at home. In fact, between 2018 and 2020, a reported 50 children under the age of 5 who visited the ER were injured in a home hot tub or pool.

Furthermore, 70% of reported deaths for children under 15 years old took place in residential settings, whether it be at the victim’s home, a neighbor’s house, or a friend’s house.

Are Men or Women More at Risk of Drowning?

Men are twice as likely to die in hot tubs compared to women. This is not limited to just hot tubs. Nearly 80% of people who drown – in any setting – are male.

Men generally take more risks than women and are even reckless when it comes to spending time in the water. Also, men are more likely to be drinking than women.

Even male children are more likely to be treated in the ER for near drownings than female children. In fact, drowning statistics show that 68% of children who drowned were boys, compared to 32% being girls. Such numbers are devastating and display an issue that must be addressed.

Drowning Prevention

There are a number of steps that can be taken to keep both children and adults safe:

• Never leave a child unattended near or in the water
• Have barriers around a pool or hot tub to prevent a child from entering a hot tub unsupervised
• Learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Learn to swim and teach your child how to swim
• Ensure that your hot tub complies with the U.S. federal safety standards
• Have access to a cell phone if you need to call for help

Further Precautionary Measures

Spa owners can take separate preventive measures to ensure everyone’s safety. A timer switch can be installed that turns off the jets at set intervals. This will prevent a hot tub occupant from staying in too long.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that hot tubs are set to a temperature of 104 degrees. Higher temperatures are risky. An occupant can suffer medical complications from staying in water that is too warm, resulting in death.

Additionally, spa owners can install vacuum-breaking lines that will shut off if a child’s (or adult’s) hair or any body part clogs the filter.

What Types of Injuries Can Occur from Near-Drowning?

When a person nearly drowns, they often experience major deficits. The victim will have a build-up of fluid in the lungs which must be suctioned out in order to breathe properly.

A person who experiences near-drowning may exhibit bluish skin, trouble breathing, chest pain, and abdominal swelling.

Depending on how long a person was deprived of oxygen, the victim could suffer from the following injuries:

• Pneumonia

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

• Cardiac arrest

• Electrolyte imbalance

• Abdominal swelling

Other Types of Hot Tub Injuries

Hot Water Burns

Although a hot water birth is relaxing, too much heat may result in burns and rushes. A burn causes damage to the skin and deeper tissues. The severity of a burn injury depends on the size and severity of the burn.

A burn may be a minor injury or a life-threatening emergency. A deep or widespread burn requires immediate medical attention.

The symptoms of burn injuries depend on the severity of the burn. For instance, a first-degree burn that affects the outer layer of the skin may cause redness and pain. A third-degree burn that affects the fat layer beneath the skin can destroy nerves and cause numbness.

CDC recommends water temperatures lower than 104 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burns in hot tubs.

Slip and Fall Injuries

The slippery surfaces surrounding a hot tub expose households to injuries. Victims suffer various injuries depending on the circumstances leading to the accident.

Typical forms of slip and fall injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Sprained ankles
• Soft tissue injuries
• Knee injuries

You can avoid slip and fall injuries by installing grip trends and handlebars.

Hair Entanglement

Hot water tubs have robust suction systems for filtering tub water, which can expose users to the risk of injury or death. Hair, jewelry, or limbs may become trapped in the drain pipe. Children are particularly vulnerable to the high suction power in hot water tubes.

You can minimize the risk of accidents by inspecting all drain covers, advising people to stay away from drains, and keeping the emergency shutoff accessible.

Safety Tips To Prevent Hot Tub Drowning

• Do not leave children unattended in hot tubs or bathtubs. Closely supervise children in a hot tub or spa.
• Don’t get into a hot tub with a broken or missing drain cover
• Do not drink alcohol in a hot tub
• Have a phone nearby to ask for help in an emergency
• Never allow underwater play in a hot tub. Drains can suck hair, trapping a child underwater
• Know the location of the pump cut off, so you can turn it off in an emergency
• Install a door or window alarm so you can know when an unattended child wanders in a hot tub area.
• Don’t allow the water temperature in a hot tub to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot water may cause drawing, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.

How Do Hot Tub Drownings Occur?

There are various reasons why drownings occur in bathtubs, including:

Heart Attack

A person with a heart condition may suffer a heart attack, faint, and subsequently fall into a hot tub. The affected person is likely to drown if they lack immediate medical attention.

Use of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs

The use of alcohol and illicit drugs in hot tubs increases the risk of drowning. Alcohol intake increases the risk of drowning because of the following reasons:

• Alcohol distorts your perception of your abilities and risk
• Alcohol increases risky behaviors by removing inhibitions
• Alcohol impairs your reaction time, particularly in water emergencies where your response time could be the difference between life and death.

Water Shock

It is a response that affects breathing in the first minute after getting into water. It is also called an automatic gasp reflex, a response to rapid skin temperature changes. If the head is immersed below the surface level, you may breathe water into the lungs, resulting in drowning.

Hot Tub Drowning Statistics

In the U.S., an average of 3,500 to 4,000 people drown each year, approximately ten fatal drownings each day. 

Eighty-seven percent of drowning fatalities occur in home pools or hot tubs for children aged five years and below. Most drowning incidents happen in facilities owned by family and friends.

How Can a Hot Tub Accident Lawyer Help?

A hot tub accident lawyer will be able to examine your case and determine if the hot tub owner, or any other person, was negligent.

Every lawsuit has a discovery phase. In reviewing the pertinent facts in your situation, we will be able to develop questions that will get to the heart of who was liable. We believe that the wrongful party should be brought to justice.

A Diligent Las Vegas Hot Tub and Walk-in Tub Accident Lawyer

Although hot tubs are meant to be a relaxing experience, they are often hazards. If your loved one has fallen victim to a near-drowning or has drowned, you are not alone.

Hot tubs can malfunction, and even someone who has taken all safety precautions can be injured or even die. Discussing your case with a hot tub and walk-in tub accident lawyer can help bring you closure to such a terrible event. Contact us today to request your free consultation.