KCA News & Media
Press Release
Press Release
| Public Sauna Circulation Drains Dangerous | |||||
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| Date | 2007-08-08 | Hit | 1751 | ||
| 첨부파일 | |||||
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The strong pressure of circulation drains in public saunas (public bath houses) was found to cause drowning accidents involving children due to their hair and hands getting sucked in. This prompted the Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB) to measure the pressure level of 118 circulation drain systems in 44 public saunas located in the nation’s 5 major cities.
※Circulation Drain: A draining system installed in public bath houses that pumps water into the bath tubs and circulates water at the same time.
■ Strength of water drains 5.6 times higher than that of first graders
After measuring the pressure of circulation drains in bath tubs (hot & cold bath, massage bath) of 44 public bath places, KCPB found that its average pressure level was 10.5㎏ and some were found to reach 49.0㎏.
In a simulation test to measure the pressure level of hair being sucked into the drain, it was 5.6 times higher than that of the pushing power of first graders. The average pushing power of first graders (46 boys, 59 girls) was 8.8㎏.
■ Drain pressure in most bath tubs stronger than that of first graders’ pushing power
53 public bath places were found to have stronger drain pressure than the pushing power of first graders. If hair or hands of pre-schoolers get sucked into the drain, it is very difficult for them to get it out on their own which can lead to drowning accidents.
Currently, there are no regulations on the size and structure of drain systems or safety standards that can prevent accidents.
■ Heat generation systems in sauna rooms may cause burns
In accordance with the current Public Health Control Act related to the safety of public bath facilities, it mandates the installment of safety nets around heat generation systems in sauna rooms, the provision of safety precautions in the entrance room and placing thermometers in sauna rooms.
However, 4 public bath places didn’t have safety nets in place or installed stainless safety nets (rather than radiation material) that may cause burns.
Safety caution signs were placed in only one place (inside or outside sauna rooms) or failed to post warnings such as ‘children under the age of 5 should not use the sauna’. Also 32 bath places failed to install thermometers in sauna rooms or had them installed outside.
Based on the above findings, KCPB will propose to the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish regulations to prevent accidents involving public bath tub drain systems such as installing safety nets around drain systems, limiting the amount of circulation pumps and regulating diameter/quantity of drain systems. Furthermore, it plans to request the Ministry to tighten inspection of public bath places on whether safety standards are abided.
Source: Consumer Safety Center |
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