Hot tub deaths per year 2024

Hot tub- and pool-related death statistics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 25 children die each day in the U.S. (and more than 9,000 annually) due to unintentional injuries. Drownings are the leading cause of unintentional injury death in children between ages 1 and 4. Death rates due to drowning are highest among American Indian/Alaska Native and Black people. Drowning rates for Black people increased 28% between 2019 and 2021.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) keeps data on the number of children under the age of 15 who are treated in emergency rooms after suffering nonfatal injuries in pools and hot tubs. The CPSC estimates that more than 93% of these injuries occur in pools.

How many children die in hot tubs and pools each year?

Between 2007 and 2020, an average of 376 children under the age of 15 died from fatal drownings in pools and hot tubs each year.

The vast majority of pool and hot tub drowning deaths impact children younger than 5 years old. Between 2018 and 2020, 75% of child drowning victims were younger than age 5. Further, boys were significantly more likely than girls to be involved in a fatal drowning accident.

What kinds of injuries happen in hot tubs?

Hot tub and pool injuries are not limited to drowning accidents. Other common causes of injuries in pools and hot tubs include slip and falls, those related to pool chemicals and heat- or suction-related incidents.

Slip and falls

Slip and falls can occur due to sticky or slippery tiles around a hot tub or pool. This is the most common way for hot tub injuries to occur and the most likely to cause concussions, fractures or dislocations.

Pool chemical injuries

Pool chemicals, such as chlorine and muriatic acid, are responsible for a significant number of injuries and emergency room visits every year. According to the CDC, pool chemical injuries led to approximately 4,503 emergency department visits each year between 2015 and 2017. More than half of these injuries occurred in residential settings, and about 36% of victims were younger than 18 years old.

Heat-related injuries

Heat-related injuries generally occur when the water in a hot tub is heated beyond suggested temperatures. The water temperature in a hot tub should not exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If you get into a hot tub with water temperatures above this level, you run the risk of experiencing heat stroke.

Suction-related injuries

Suction-related injuries are caused when an individual’s hair, body part or clothing becomes trapped in a pipe or filter of a pool or hot tub. According to CPSC, these incidents are relatively rare, causing only nine serious injuries and two deaths between the years of 2014 and 2018. All 11 victims of the incidents were under the age of 15.

How to keep kids safe around hot tubs and pools

As noted above, thousands of children are injured every year in hot tubs and pools. A multidecade study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that almost 73% of hot tub-, whirlpool- and hot tub-related injuries happen to individuals 17 years old and younger.

You can keep kids safer by following some general safety guidelines.

• Children under age 5 should not use hot tubs.
• Never leave children unattended or unsupervised by an adult around a pool or hot tub.
• Even when with other adults, make sure at least one person is specifically designated to keep their eyes on the water at all times.
• If you are the adult responsible for watching the water, minimize distractions: Put your phone down and stay attentive.
• Instruct kids to stay away from pool drains and hot tub jets.
• Ensure that drain covers are securely in place.
• If your kids have long hair, make sure it is tied up securely to minimize the risk of it getting stuck or entangled in a drain.
• Take a water safety class, and learn infant and child CPR.
• Enroll your children in swim lessons and water safety classes.
• Keep residential pools and hot tubs latched or locked when not in use.

References

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