In January 2011 we installed a new luxury spa suite for up to 8-10 guests. An outside hot tub spa / jacuzzi and a small sauna and walkin shower with some disabled access.

Its a well-loved area for all our guests, young and older, during the day and at night! It easily gets the most glowing comments when people leave. The hot tub is the most common item on the wish list for a Hen Party.

 

Alongside this is a walk in shower, a full disabled toilet and small basin (which doesn’t have wheelchair access unfortunately due to lack of space.).

There is a small changing area and space to hang your towels, all with underfloor heating so its cosy when you come out.

Just outside the front door with an access ramp from the sauna / washroom and hallway is a large, sunny patio with a luxury all-cedar spa hot tub and spacious dining area with lighting for the night and a gas BBQ. This is all set amongst a well planted scented garden with roses, herbs, lilies, shrubs etc.

 It really is the height of luxury!

The patio is private and enclosed here with scented plants and colour all year round. There is lighting for use at night and a gas BBQ plus outside power.

There are some “Health and Safety” Consideration though – so please read on..

Please note that children MUST be SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES to prevent any accidents. Whilst there is a cover that goes over the hot tub when it is not in use, it is NOT designed to stop anyone falling in by accident. It must NOT be walked on!

Towels are provided in the house but you are asked to provide your own towels for use in the sauna and hot tub and I would recommend that each person has a dressing gown and slippers /clogs as it makes it all much easier.

 

Safety Considerations.

Soaking in the hot tub or sauna is relaxing, warm and wonderful. The hot water soothes your body and rejuvenates your spirits. But that same hot water holds some potential dangers.

Persons with these conditions must NOT use the hot tub or sauna.

• heart disease,  
• diabetes, 
•  high or low blood pressure or  
• any serious illness, and  
• pregnant women –  
• indeed persons with any doubt MUST NOT ENTER THE HOT TUB without prior consultation with their doctor. 
• People with skin, ear, genital or other body infections, open sores or wounds should not use the hot tub because of the strong possibility of spreading infection.

Shower with soap and water before and after using the hot tub. Showering before use washes away many of the common skin bacteria, and removes lotions, deodorants, creams, etc. Perspiration and lotions will reduce the effectiveness of the in-tub disinfectant chemicals (there to keep the water safe) and reduce the ability of the filter to work efficiently. Also, if there are detergents on your swimwear it will cause the top of the water to foam and the water to become cloudy.

High water temperatures can elevate your body temperature of your internal organs beyond safe limits. (It’s almost like having a fever.) It is recommended that maximum water temperature never exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

Don’t soak for more than 15 minutes at one sitting in 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) water. If you wish to soak for a longer period of time in high temperatures, leave the spa or hot tub after 15 minutes, shower, cool down and then return for another brief stay. In lower temperatures (e.g., 98.6 degrees – normal body temperature), most people can comfortably and safely soak for longer periods at one sitting. If you have any questions about what’s right for you and your family, consult with your doctor.

Never use the spa or hot tub or sauna when you’re alone.

Never use a spa or hot tub while or after using alcohol. Alcohol acts to expand your blood vessels and increase your body temperature- much like soaking in hot water does. Alcohol in your bloodstream and soaking at the same time creates a combined effect that can be damaging. The body temperature may accelerate to dangerous levels quickly. The alcohol may cause nausea, dizziness or light headedness.

The ultimate danger of combined alcohol consumption and hot water soaking is drowning due to loss of consciousness, heart attack or stroke or injury due to passing out and falling.

The combined use of certain prescribed medicines and hot water soaking can be dangerous. Never use a hot tub while or after using narcotics or other drugs that may cause sleepiness, drowsiness or raise or lower blood pressure. With any drug or medication, consult with your doctor about potential harmful effects from combined use of the drug and hot water soaking. Never use a spa or hot tub if you are under the influence of drugs.

It is best not to soak immediately after eating a heavy meal.

Never allow children to use the spa or hot tub unsupervised. Children enjoy playing in water and may not understand the risk involved in too much exposure. Discretion is advised in allowing children to use spas and hot tubs at all, since their young bodies may not adjust well to the high temperatures. If in doubt, check with your doctor.

If young children will be using the spa or hot tub, explain to them that they cannot under any circumstances dive or jump into it. While a spa or hot tub may seem large and deep to a child, it is not designed for jumping, diving or underwater swimming.

• Remove all jewellery when using the sauna in case of the risk of burning to the skin.
• Drink plenty of cool water after leaving the sauna / spa — 2 to 4 glasses. It is easy to become dehydrated due to high temperatures and humidity.

The disabled toilet /shower room – there is deliberately NO LOCK on the sliding door to the sauna / shower room in case there is an emergency and immediate access is required. Therefore please use the “knock and wait procedure” if the door is closed along with turning the occupied sign outside the door as necessary.

Exercise

Gentle exercises in the hot tub can be beneficial – it is good for “warming up” with simple flexibility exercises. These exercises are easier in water because water effectively lessens the pull of gravity on your body. Be aware of the weakening effect of hot water and don’t overdue it. If you wish to exercise in your spa or hot tub, lower the temperature to 80 degrees.

Entertaining

Your family and guests are likely to be intrigued by the new spa or hot tub. Before they go in – and especially if it is their first time in a hot water facility – explain the safety precautions. Point out how to enter it and where the seats are located.

 

Establish an area away from the spa or hot tub for refreshments to prevent accidental slips or falls caused by spills near the spa or tub on the deck, and to prevent debris from falling into the facility.

More likely than not your guest will be barefooted while near the spa or hot tub. Use only unbreakable dishes, beverage containers and utensils. Never use glass anywhere near the spa or hot tub. Broken glass is invisible in water and extremely difficult to get out of the support system.

Never leave a child alone, out of eye-contact supervision, in or near the spa or hot tub or sauna – not even for a second.  

 I hope that you enjoy these fabulous, luxurious additions to the house to the full, but always be mindful of how you and others are coping with the experience.

Be safe and keep others safe too. Thank you. 

 In case of emergency – Main hot tub electrics switch – in the electricity cupboard in the downstairs toilet, to the left and underneath the shelf to the mains switchboard. Marked hot tub on a red sticker!

• Stay out of the hot tub during lightning or rainstorms, because of the possibility of electrocution from the lightning hitting the water.

Hot tub cover. Always completely remove the cover before using your spa or hot tub. Drain any standing water from the surface of your spa or hot tub cover (e.g., by using a water pump). Even a small amount of water may be sufficient for an infant or small child to drown. Be especially alert for potential drowning accidents if you use any lightweight, floating spa or hot tub covers. These are not safety covers and no one should walk or crawl on them.

• Do not place objects (e.g., chairs or tables) near the spa or hot tub fence that could allow a youngster to climb over.

• Do not permit playful screaming for help (false alarms), which might mask a real emergency.
  
  Never consider young children “water – safe” despite their swimming skills, previous instruction or experience. Many professionals warn that these lessons made provide a false sense of security to a child’s family and not actually prepare a child for surviving a true emergency.

Enjoy the luxury facilities here at Living Elements.

By following these simple guidelines you will stay safe and get the most out of the spa facilities.

If you use the spa or hot tub at night, put ON the adequate lighting around the facility – Main lighting around patio and hot tub – switch on wall by the front door.

Enter the spa or hot tub slowly and cautiously. Be careful of your footing, and allow your body to gradually get used to the water temperature. Leave slowly as well, because your leg muscles may be sufficiently relaxed to make you a bit unsteady, and you may become lightheaded.

Gayle Palmer © 2015-6 Chichester Self Catering