7 Bath Safety Tips

03 Mar 7 Bath Safety Tips

For thousands of people every year a trip to the bathroom often ends in a trip to the emergency room. For seniors and children especially, the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house. As you start thinking about Spring cleaning, now the perfect time to check for potential hazards in your bathroom.

 
The best thing you can do to prevent falls in the bathroom is putting rubber mats in your bathroom. Have a rubberized mat inside the tub or use rubber bath decals. Make sure the bath mat outside the tub has a rubberized back. A bath mat without a rubberized mat can actually contribute to a fall. The rubberized back keeps the mat from slipping out of place.

 
Add grab bars in you bathroom for added stability. Many people won’t install grab bars because they use the towel bar for support. Towel bars are designed to hold towels not people. There’s only a little glue holding it to the wall. The screws that hold grab bars in place make them much safer than towel bars.

 
Other people won’t install grab bars because they think they look tacky. Home improvement stores carry plenty of stylish grab bars that can disguise themselves as shelves, towel bars, and toilet paper holders. That way your bathroom can have style and still be safe.

 
Another potential hazard in the bathroom is burns. Water hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit can be especially dangerous for children and seniors. Adjust your thermostat on your water heater to prevent scalding.

 
Never leave a child alone in the tub. A few inches of water can mean the difference between life and death. Prevent drowning by always supervising children while they’re taking a bath.

 
Here’s a shocker! Water conducts electricity. Keeping all electrical devices like hair dryer, hair straighteners, and portable heaters away from the bathtub and sink will keep your family safe.

 
Finally, if you have an elderly parent or a child who is at risk in the bathroom, make sure you have a way to call for help. Make sure you always have a cell phone or cordless telephone handy, so you can quickly call for help if you need it.