Having a swim spa at home is a great way to make the most of your backyard. It becomes a place to not only swim in place and exercise but relax and spend time with family.
The best way to ensure the safety of everyone is to establish a set of house swim spa rules.
While rules might seem like they might take away the fun, they will give you peace of mind and you can enjoy a truly relaxing experience.
The swim spa rules that you establish at your house might vary from another homeowner but there are some general safety guidelines that will ensure your backyard remains a safe place for fun and recreation.
Swim spa rules every owner should know
Children and adults all can learn to be safer in and around water, whether you’re hanging out on a beach over vacation or swimming in your backyard.
But while a beach might have life guards, it’s up to homeowners to set guidelines and make sure everyone stays safe. The American Red Cross recommends adding layers of safety. Among the recommendations, homeowners should make sure that children don’t have unsupervised access to the water and life jackets are available.
These swim spa rules will help keep your family safe in and out of the water.
Supervision matters
Local pools and beaches often have lifeguards on duty to make sure that people are safe around the water and take action in the event of an emergency.
When you designate a water watcher for your background swim spa, it’s like having an “on-duty lifeguard.” When everyone is enjoying the swim spa, it’s easy for attention to be divided among conversations, music, or other activities. This water watcher is responsible for keeping an eye on anyone in the water and making sure safety is front of mind.
Knowing there’s a designated water watcher on duty provides peace of mind for everyone enjoying the swim spa. It allows swimmers to relax and enjoy their time in the water, knowing that someone is actively monitoring their safety.
Clear the area
Deck boxes and storage benches are a great way to keep your patio neat and remove clutter. But maintaining a clutter-free patio goes beyond aesthetics. Removing any obstacles, such as toys, furniture, or loose objects, can help prevent family and friends from tripping.
In addition, a clutter-free outdoor space provides a second layer of safety. When children see water toys and floats, it’s an invitation to get in the water — even if the water watcher isn’t on duty. Keeping these things out of view will serve as a reminder that it’s not time to get in the swim spa.
Safe entry and exit
You want your kids and anyone using your swim spa to be able to splash around and have fun. But it’s important to make sure that everyone knows that they can enjoy the water — without diving or jumping in.
As a swim spa owner, it’s important that everyone knows how to safely enter and exit the swims spa. Spa steps feature handrails, helping you to stay steady as you approach the spa. And the inside of the spa has built-in steps near the hot tub seats. You can use the steps or even sit on the edge of the spa, swinging your legs in to get into the water.
To help maximize safety, consider the optional non-slip comfort flooring system from Master Spas, which adds grip and traction. The flooring is applied to each step, as well as the bottom of the spa. It not only helps with a safe entry and exit but provides cushion during water workouts or even while playing in the spa.
Create a no-glass zone
When you think about water safety, how you serve refreshments might not be top of mind.
But you want to think twice as someone heads to the swim spa with a bottle of root beer or glass of water.
Glass objects, such as bottles, cups, or containers, can — and do — break. And the last thing you want is for glass to break near or in the swim spa. Not only can stepping on glass pose a risk of injury but it’s a serious risk to have glass in water. Not only is it hard to spot but it can damage spa components.
Swim spa owners should make sure that everyone in the backyard is using drinkware made from plastic or stainless steel. If you are pre-packaged drinks, opt for cans or plastic bottles instead of those in glass.
What should you do if glass breaks in your swim spa? Be sure to have everyone safely exit the water. Then, turn off power at the breaker and follow the draining and refill process.
Be sun safe
A major perk of having a backyard swim spa is the ability to enjoy the great outdoors while you soak. Whether you’re swimming in place or decompressing in the hot tub seats, spending time in your swim spa allows you to enjoy the fresh air and warm sunshine. However, too much sun exposure can be harmful to your skin.
Traditional sunscreen lotions can be a water quality nightmare for your swim spa if not used judiciously. The oils, dyes, and chemicals can quickly degrade the water and cause issues with filters and pumps.
While one of your swim spa rules might be to avoid sunscreen and other body care products while in the water, you can still encourage people to be sun safe. Long-sleeve swim shirts and swimsuits are made of lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics that allow your skin to breathe while blocking out up to 98 percent of UV rays. You’ll stay cooler and be protected.
If your swim spa is located in a part of your backyard that gets intense, direct sunlight, look into installing a cantilever umbrella or sun shade sail. These provide portable, adaptable shade solutions so you can lounge without harsh rays beating down on you. Umbrellas with UV-blocking canopy fabrics are ideal.
Mind the temperature
H2X Fitness Swim Spas from Master Spas combine the fun and recreation of a pool with the relaxation of a hot tub. You can set the water temperature in the 80s for water exercise and to cool off on a summer day. Or, if you want to use the hot tub seats and massage jets, you can adjust the temperature up to 99 degrees.
While the warm, soothing waters of your swim spa can provide relaxation and comfort, it’s important not to overheat. If you have your water temperature set in the therapeutic range, be mindful of how long you have been in the spa and check in with your body. You want to make sure that you are staying hydrated and don’t feel overheated.
Secure the cover
When your swim spa is not in use, always secure the cover to prevent unauthorized access, especially if you have young children or pets. A locked cover not only keeps out unwanted guests but also helps maintain water temperature and cleanliness, reducing energy costs and the need for chemical treatments.
H2X swim spas are engineered to meet the most stringent safety guidelines. The locking cover provides an added layer of safety. When children don’t see the water, they are less curious. And the cover is often too big for them to open on their own. In addition, parents can lock the cover so that they can’t undo the latches.
Educate your guests
If you plan on hosting guests or family members in your swim spa, take the time to educate them about safety rules and guidelines. Provide a brief orientation, highlighting important information such as how to operate the swim spa controls, where emergency equipment is located, and what to do in case of an emergency.
Invest in a backyard pool alternative
Do you want to be able to swim, exercise, and relax at home? Having an H2X Fitness Swim Spa by Master Spas allows you to swim on your schedule while adding a fun factor to your backyard. You can click here to find out more about the benefits of hydrotherapy and relaxing in a swim spa. Or, contact your local Master Spas retailer to learn more about swim spa ownership. Wondering how much a swim spa costs? You can request a quote here.