January is National Bath Safety Month
I’ll bet you didn’t know January is Nation Bathroom Safety Month. Why have an entire month dedicated to the topic? Probably because 70 percent of all home accidents occur in the bath. Three hundred and seven people are injured each day. The bath seems to be one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. The cause of the problem seems obvious; a combination smooth surfaces such as tile and water but there are other factors as well. Here are 8 simple things to make your bath a safer place.
- Make sure there is adequate lighting. Low light and poor vision can prevent water and other obstacles from being seen.
- Use nonslip rugs on the floor.
- Install grab bars near the toilet, tub and shower with screws long enough to support a body’s weight. Towel racks are not sturdy enough to use for support and can break.
- Use a non-slip mat in the tub and shower.
- Keep electrical appliances unplugged when not in use and install GFI (Ground fault interrupter) circuits if your bath doesn’t already have them.
- Keep all medicines, cleaning products, and bath products out of reach of children to avoid accidental poisoning.
- Avoid being scalded in the shower by installing a mixing valve and keep hot water heaters set to a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
- Mop up spills and splashes promptly.
Most victims of bathroom slips and falls are over the age of 65 but everyone is vulnerable. It is estimated that the average medical cost of a fall in the bath is $18,000. These inexpensive measures can make your bath a safer place for you and your family.
Resources:
https://www.nsc.org/pages/home.aspx
https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/5869