Common sense soaking

While there were rumors of two deaths at the hot springs this past week, Police Chief Ken Lehr, confirmed that there was only one. Details could not yet be released at the time of the interview as the Carbon County Coroner has not yet completed the investigation.

Lehr did say that, typically, there are three to four deaths per year. This year however, there have already been three. The higher number may be attributed to the COVID-19 restrictions. Lehr thinks that people are looking for a release from the stress of the pandemic and visiting the hot springs more often.

The biggest issue at the hot springs, according to Lehr, is people consuming alcohol either at the pool or walking there after drinking. Lehr said, “If they have a high blood alcohol level, nine times out of 10 it can cause a cardiac issue or other unseen medical issues they didn’t know they had.”

There are signs at the hot springs that indicate alcohol is not allowed. Swimming there is at your own risk.

There are cameras at the hot springs that police dispatch does monitor. Lehr thinks that the dispatchers have actually been able to prevent some deaths because they are able to see if someone is in distress. If a person is found unresponsive, all the police can do is pull them out and contact Emergency Medical Services. In the case of a death, the police will close off the hot springs to respect the privacy of the individual until the coroner arrives.

What makes the hot springs dangerous? Doctor Chris Williams of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s Platte Valley Health Center says that our springs are warmer than the average hot tub.

The recommended time to spend in a hot tub that is 104 degrees or less is 10 minutes. The hot springs in Saratoga are 109 or higher. According to Williams, if a person’s blood pressure is not stable or they are taking blood pressure medicine, sitting in hot water can cause vascular dilation and blood pressure can drop significantly. Hot water can also cause inflammatory cascades in people who are not in great shape or elderly or bring out medical conditions of which the person was previously unaware. Williams advises that we listen to our grandmothers and practice moderation.

Moderation is possible at the Saratoga Hot Springs. There is a “not-so-hot” pool that was built to provide an alternate to the main spring. Jon Winters, Director of Public Works, said that their department tries to keep the smaller pool between 99 and 102 degrees. Hot water is pumped from a well connected with the main spring and mixed with cool water to create a more tolerable temperature.

The Public Works Department does drain and clean the hot springs once a quarter but in the case of a death at the springs, there is nothing they can do.

The pool does have a high rate of water flow. Winters was not sure what that rate is but guessed it may be around 200 gallons per minute. When the springs are cleaned, it is drained and pumps have to be run constantly to keep the water level low enough to power wash. The cleaning procedure starts at six or seven in the morning and by noon the pool is full once again.

The overall consensus for safety at the Saratoga Hot Springs is do not consume alcohol before or during use. Being intoxicated and in hot water does not end well for most people.

Chief Lehr would also like to remind people that if you have any type of cardiac or other medical issue, do not go swimming alone. The hot springs can be a relaxing and beneficial experience for people with sore muscles. Using a little common sense goes a long way toward staying safe.