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w w w. h e a l t h y s w i m m i n g . o r g Spa User Information: Protect Yourself from Recreational Water Illnesses and Stay HOT! Healthy Swimming Heed...spa rules for safe and healthy use. • Refrain from entering a spa when you have diarrhea. • Avoid swallowing spa water or even getting it into your mouth. • Shower or bathe with soap before entering the spa. • Observe limits, if posted, on the maximum allowable number of bathers. • Exclude children less than 5 years of age from using spas. • If pregnant, consult a physician before spa use, particularly in the first trimester. Observe...and listen to the spa and its surroundings. What should you notice? • No odor; a well-chlorinated spa has little odor. A strong chemical smell indicates a maintenance problem. • Smooth spa sides; tiles should not be sticky or slippery. • Spa equipment is working; pumps and filtration systems make noise and you should hear them running. • Spa temperature; the water temperature should not exceed 104˚F (40˚C) • Check the spa water; test for adequate chlorine (2-5 parts per million) and pH (7.2-7.8) levels. Pool and spa chlorine test strips are available at local home improvement stores, discount retailers and pool supply stores. If you want to practice using them at home, visit: Talk...to spa owners/staff and other spa users. • What was the health inspector’s grade for the spa after its last inspection? • Are chlorine and pH levels checked at least twice per day? • Are these levels checked during times when the pool is most heavily used? • Are trained operation staff available during the weekends when the spa is most heavily used? • What specialized training did the staff take to prepare for working at or operating a spa? • Learn about RWIs and educate other users and your spa operator. • Urge your spa management to spread the word about RWIs to spa staff and pool users. Fact Sheet for spa users