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Author
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Topic: public hot tubs !?!?!
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angel_of_hope
Knowflake Posts: 186
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted January 13, 2005 06:43 PM
 
okay a friend and I are debating on whether or not public hot tubs are sanitary, i.e work out clubs, rent-a-tub (where u go an party at thier facilities)
I dont believe (IMO) they are sanitary. I would think that they would be breeding grounds for bacteria. I know the water temp should be at a certain level (120 - I believe) BUt does all bacteria/germs die at 120 or can some survive? Also wouldnt the heat in the small room where the tub is, draw bacteria? attract it? She says no way! chlorine kills all and high temp keeps it away. (first I didnt know there was cholrine in a hot tub, swimming pool yes, but hot tub? And how much does Chlorine kill? is it like a can of lysol "kills 99.99% of germs" anyone else have any thoughts on this? and what about saunas? Im asking cause shes wanting me to go workout with her this weekend at out local club and trying to convince me that the hottubs are safe to use after the workout.... anyone? anyone? bueller? bueller?  ang- IP: Logged |
trillian
Moderator Posts: 2911
From: The Boundless
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted January 13, 2005 07:01 PM
Somewhere here at LL, I seem to recall Gia posting something about public pools and how unsanitary they can be...if I get a sec I'll look for it.But hey, I love swimming, I love (private) hot tubs, and really how sanitary is the ocean or a lake? Lots of fish poop ya know.  IP: Logged |
angel_of_hope
Knowflake Posts: 186
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted January 13, 2005 08:05 PM
Thanks Trillian,
I went searching thru the topics but found nothing in headlines for the topics .... unless I missed it. And yes ... you do have a point! Most our lakes up here are polluted with duck/goose poop - which is the cause of swimmers itch ... i got that once as a child and chose not to go anymore to those lakes that are populated with fowl of sorts. Though up here in AK there are many lakes that dont have fish in them. Thanks for searching for muah! 
ang- IP: Logged |
NeoKitty
Knowflake Posts: 422
From: Heaven
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted January 13, 2005 09:53 PM
Ewww Gross!Well I have a little tale to tell about a hot tub at a motel I was staying at. I was contemplating for a while whether I'd take the plunge and use a public one.
My step-father is a germ-a-phobe- virgo and he warned me.
I wish I had listened. I headed toward the hot tub, and got undressed. This one had jets and so I was going to start filling the tub up with hot water first, and then turn the jets on. That was my plan.
But strangely, I accidently turned the jets on first... And then, the jets started stuggleing, sounded like they were blocked.
All of a sudden, it began to spray hot air, and NOT ONLY AIR!! It was blowing nails, pubic hairs, dried skin, and who knows what else... all over the tub, I seriously dry-reached! I was IN the tub mind you, and I got a bit of the spray of putrid, volatile, gross stuff. I screamed, jumped out in a shot, and headed for the shower. My Step-father, laughed himself, and gave himself a hernia...I'm a bit of a germ-a-phobe too, that was what was so funny! I imagined if I filled the tub first and I would've been wise to the fact that I was enjoying a hot, bubbly, spa filled with muck.
I couldn't bare the thought! I NEVER, EVER will use ANYTHING public like that- no pools, no spas, no saunas, no no no! 
------------------
"And dreams, don't ever forget, are the first step in manifesting wishes into reality"-- Linda Goodman's Star Signs
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miss_apples
Knowflake Posts: 377
From: white bear lake, MN, USA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted January 13, 2005 11:33 PM
Im so sorry you had a bad experience Neokitty.
There was probably something wrong with that particular tub.I personally have never had anything bad happen to me from using a public pool or hot tub. I mean when you go to hotels, everything in them is used. But how do we know if anything outside our home is sanitary? Everytime we come into contact with another person in general we are risking contracting germs and bacteria. IP: Logged |
NeoKitty
Knowflake Posts: 422
From: Heaven
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted January 14, 2005 12:52 AM
Yeah, that tub was obviously not regularly cleaned...and I wonder about the integrity of that particular motel...  And I think I contracted somthing nasty on my foot once from a public pool.
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angel_of_hope
Knowflake Posts: 186
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted January 14, 2005 02:21 AM
Neokitty - Eeeeeewwwwwuuuuh! yes, something had to be terribly wrong with that pool. Or was it a sign! Thats the stuff I think of when using public pools and hot tubs ... even in hotels while sleeping I dont sleep naked. Most those comforter arent washed for periods of time only the sheets and under blanket get washed regularly. I watched a big thing on tv regarding sanitary issues in hotels ... its almost scary how much stuff is left behind. When I used public showers I got athletes foot and it took forever for it to clear and go away even. I thkn because at first I hadnt a clue what it was since I never had it before - so it took me a while to seek treatment. Since then when I do, I wear flip-flops into the shower or If I can not, I wear my shoes to the shower door and throw a towel folded up on to the shower floor and stand on it. Miss Apples, I agree with you on the sanitary outside our homes. pollutants are everywhere we go. Im not a germ-o-phobe except when it comes to public areas such as bathrooms (i hover) hot tubs and hotel beds. Otherwise I am not worried of such things ... just the fact that u can contract things much more easily thru genitalia than elsewhere, especially if your a shaver and might not notice the little cut u gave ur selve prior to using the public places suc has those listed above. Its just somethign that has scared me. I often wanted to take a black light into the public places like pools, hot tubs, showers and bathrooms to see just how sanitary they realy are. Urine glows like mad under the black light ... Eeeeeewwwwwwuuuuuuh! thanks for the response guys! ang- IP: Logged |
miss_apples
Knowflake Posts: 377
From: white bear lake, MN, USA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted January 14, 2005 09:27 PM
I used to be a house keeper at a hotel and I can tell you that only the sheets get washed after every use, not the bedspread OR the underblanket. I also know that some of my fellow housekeepers (not myself, I swear Im not bad...lol) would not change the sheets and tell the head house keeper that they did just to cut corners. So yeah, watch out for hotel beds, check them out before you sleep in them. Unmake the bed and check the sheets for any hairs or anything. IP: Logged |
Gia
Moderator Posts: 934
From: California
Registered: May 2004
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posted January 15, 2005 09:11 PM
You would have to carry me kicking and screaming into a public hot tub. Where is all that hot tub talk we had way back? I've searched but I can't find it. Any clues?  Gia IP: Logged |
Kat
Knowflake Posts: 274
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted January 16, 2005 03:45 PM
I think if the tub isn't super hot get out immediately. I stayed a hotel where the hot tub wasn't really hot. Within a week later I had some bizarre ring shaped circles on my chest. My doctor said it was a fungal infection (yuk!)Fortunately this overpriced medication did the trick. I didn't put two and two together until a friend of mine said she knows someone this happened to and it was the result of sitting in a swimming pool lounge chair.I'm supsicious of communal hot tubs even swimming pool lounge chairs since then.IP: Logged |
angel_of_hope
Knowflake Posts: 186
From: Anchorage, AK, USA
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted January 16, 2005 05:03 PM
Thanks for all the info/opinions everyone. Fortunatly I stood my ground and didnt not attempt to go into the hottubs. Funny thing is you can watch all the people flock in and out of that thing in a matter of ten minutes while changing in the locker rooms. All the while some have showered, some have not. People walking around with wet and barefeet. How many of those people who didnt shower just got done working out sweating up a storm!?!?! makes one wonder about some people hygine or protection of others. Most people dont think of these sort of things when using public pools, hot tubs, lockerrooms, showers etc ... but most people do think of public restrooms and use toilet seat covers, or t.p. spread out around the seat, or paper towels to turn the faucet on and off or to grab the door handle. Why would people not think about pools and such if they are so worried about restrooms ... to me they both go hand in hand. One in the same. Anyhow - I've made my final desicion - I wont be stepping into public hot tubs or pools and I will be wearing shoes/flip-flops in locker rooms and time I am at a public place of sorts. Thats my story and im sitcking to it. thanks again for all the responses and stories!  ang- IP: Logged |
Gia
Moderator Posts: 934
From: California
Registered: May 2004
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posted January 17, 2005 11:09 AM
Please note that the hotter the tub is does not make a difference to fungal spores. In fact I would say anything wet or damp increases chances of them breeding. Fungus is one thing, but we are especially prone to internal infections due to dirty hot tubs. Gia IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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