Don’t Drink and Tub

The cautionary tale of Max George highlights the dangers of mixing alcohol and hot tubs.

This time, the story had a happy ending: Max George almost drowned drunk when he jumped into a hot tub and sank during a party in Los Angeles a week ago.  A cameraman on his “The Wanted Life” reality show crew saved his life by jumping in the tub and pulling him out.

But George’s near-death experience is a warning to everyone: Don’t drink and tub. Your body wasn’t made to handle both.

Here’s why:

Dehydration.

Sweating in a hot tub dehydrates your body. So does alcohol. Both at the same time is too much. That can lead to light-headedness, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, confusion, weakness and even coma or death.

Dizziness.

The high temperatures of a heart tub can lower your blood pressure. If you’ve also been drinking, that can lead to dizziness that will make you stumble or fall – never a good thing near water.

Sleeping or unconsciousness.

The hot tub is great for relaxing your mind and body, so much that you could easily drift to sleep. Alcohol also relaxes your muscles and your mind. The combination could make you pass out and sink, as George did.

Heat Exhaustion.

Hot tub heat expands your blood vessels and increases your body temperature. So does alcohol. This can lead to heat exhaustion that can trigger unconsciousness, or even a stroke or heart attack. Symptoms include confusion and dizziness, fainting or fatigue, headache, nausea, extreme sweating and rapid heartbeat and elevated body temperature.

Recklessness.

Alcohol can lead you to lose your inhibitions and take foolish chances, like Max George did, that can be life-threatening near water.

A Plea.

If your plans include hot tubbing and drinking, soak first.  Staying sober for that relaxing 20 minutes or so is well worth the enjoyment and peace of mind.  Don’t put yourself in a position where someone else has to save your life. Don’t tub while impaired.

If you have a story about the dangers of mixing alcohol and tubbing, please share it to help others stay safe.

SANUM PER AQUA. As the Romans said it “Health through Water”.

Find the perfect hot tub, fast!

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