Guidelines to Promote Bathroom Safety At Home
Every year, there are almost a hundred thousand individuals who go through some form of injuries while in their very own bathroom. Surprisingly, despite accidents being frequent in this part of the house, very few of us pay particular attention to promoting safety in the bathroom. It is very important to be vigilant about bathroom safety especially when we have kids and seniors who are part of the household. Here are some important tips in ensuring utmost safety in your bathroom at home:
Invest in Grab Bars For your Bathroom
Majority of bathroom accidents are caused by slips and falls. To prevent this, invest in and install grab bars in areas in the bathroom where slippage and falls may happen. Some important areas include the bathtub, the toilet, and the shower. Most grab bars available today are made out of stainless steel, which may also become slippery (especially when there is soap), so it may be best to put rubber grip pads as well.
Put Non-Slip Mats on the Floor
Anti-slip features must be included in your bathroom. If you are doing a major renovation, you can redesign the floor to include textured flooring, install handrails, put “in use” signage, and anti-slip strips. You can also simply put a slip-resistant mat on your existing bathroom floor, in the shower as well as in and around the bathtub.
Make Sure Chemicals are Stored Out of Reach.
There are over 30,000 cases every year of suspected poisoning caused by chemicals stored in the bathroom. Majority of this figure involves children aged 4 and below. It is then very important to secure chemicals, cleansers and other bottles that contain potential poison. Keep them in secure cabinets or cupboards, and if need be, install locks.
Be careful with Electrical Devices. Always Unplug After Use
If you or any of the household members use an electric shaver or blow dryer, or any other electronic device while in the bathroom. Make sure to unplug them every after use. Have an area where you properly put away these electrical units. Better yet, choose a battery-operated, waterproof model.
Set the Water Heater to the Right Temperature.
Accidents caused by scalding due to improper setting of hot water also frequently happen in the bathroom. Make sure to set the temperature of your heater to moderately warm. If there is no thermostat in your heater unit, invest in a thermostat mixing valve – or, make sure to train everyone in the household to open the cold tap first before opening the hot water valve.
De-Clutter For Safety
Lastly, clear the bathroom surfaces of clutter and of things you don’t need. Provide a basket or dish to hold things you regularly use, and keep away those that you don’t. If you have kids in the house, limit their toys to only soft rubber toys and keep them away after bath time.
It is very important to keep everyone in the family informed about possible dangers in the bathroom. Make sure to educate your kids of danger hotspots, and make them understand why bathroom safety tips are very important. It is only with their cooperation that you can keep yours safe and accident-free.
