Two elderly women on a girls’ trip to Kentucky’s national forest nearly died after their relaxing dip in a hot tub turned into panic when they realized they couldn’t get out of the scalding water.
A group of friends, all in their 80s, were enjoying the jacuzzi at a remote cabin in the Red River Gorge area last Friday until two of them were suddenly “unable to get out of the tub because of pre-existing issues,” the Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team said.
Stuck in scorching water for an extended time, the pair overheated to the point they became hyperthermic and passed out, according to the rescue organization.
One of their friends went into the hot tub to hold their heads above the water so they didn’t drown until they got help.
The cabin’s caretakers rushed over and pulled the ladies out of the jaccuzi. One was partially responsive, but the other woman didn’t stir and was in critical condition by the time first responders arrived, according to the the search and rescue team.
A member of the rescue team, who also works as an EMT, hauled the unresponsive woman over to a nearby shower and doused her with cold water. They packed ice and cold compresses on both women to help alleviate their hyperthermia, rescuers said.
The semi-responsive woman was taken back outside and hosed down with cold water.
Once the women began to show signs of recovery, they were both taken to a hospital for further evaluation and are reportedly doing well, according to a spokesperson for the rescue group.
No alcohol or other substances were suspected of having contributed to the near-fatal soak, the spokesperson said.
The rescuers issued a timely warning advising caution when enjoying hot tubs, regardless of the time of year. They advised limiting “immersion time” to “between 15-30 minutes” and for anyone with a disability to take extra caution entering and exiting the tub.
“Hyperthermia and Heatstroke can be fatal, and this story could have ended much differently without the quick thinking of all those involved with this rescue,” Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team said in a statement, adding that the girls’ trip “nearly turned tragic.”
In 1987, the Consumer Product Safety Commission established requirements for temperature controls to ensure spa water temperatures in particular never exceeded 104 degrees after “several deaths” relating to scalding water were reported.
Thirteen other deaths recorded by the CPSC were caused by hair entanglement in drain covers or other related openings in hot tubs, whirlpools and spa equipment.
Last summer, one man was electrocuted to death while soaking in a hot tub at a Mexican resort. His wife, who jumped in to try and save him, just barely survived and sued the resort for his death.
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