Bathroom Safety Tips

National Bath Safety Month is here, and Metro-Flow Plumbing is ready to share some helpful tips you can implement to help make your bathroom a safer place. 

"Every year about 235,000 people over age 15 visit emergency rooms because of injuries suffered in the bathroom, and almost 14 percent are hospitalized." 

One of the biggest safety risks is the risk of falling. It turns out the bathroom is the most dangerous room in your house. ​ Here are a few simple, inexpensive ideas that will help you enjoy your bathroom a little more:

1. Say hello to the shower, and goodbye to the bath. Though taking a bath may seem like a relaxing experience, it can be a dangerous place as more than a third of the injuries happen while bathing or showering. It's quite easy to slip walking into the tub or stepping out of it. For those who have mobility challenges, but who wish to stay in their homes, it may be time to consider installing a spa-style tub with accommodations.
2. Consider in-home help. Seniors are at a higher risk of accidents in the bathroom. Though we may not like having someone with us during this time, we need to be honest with ourselves in order to prevent accidents from happening.
3. Modify your toilet and shower to reduce falls. Toilets can be a danger as well. More than 14 percent occur while using the toilet. Standard toilets’ heights are low, which are a strain on joints and muscles, particularly for seniors. Beyond pain, this adds a fall risk and the possibility of strained muscles. While replacing the toilet itself is certainly an option, consider simply using a raised toilet seat and installing a grab bar.
4. Install grab handles. Do not depend on the towel rack or sliding glass door or the tub to steady yourself. Those can come off with much less weight than the pull of the human body. 
5. Purchase a non-slip bath mat. Bathroom safety will also increase with a non-slip bath mat in the bathtub, as well as a non-slip bathmat to step on when exiting the tub. Explore the option of a fuzzy rug outside the bathroom, which will not only help avoid fall risks on a slippery floor, but will also give added padding. And, of course, clean up all spills on the bathroom floor, as these will also add to the fall risk.
6. Consider installing a night light. It is also important to make sure there is a well-lit path to the bathroom. This will help prevent falls on your way to the bathroom and while you're there in the middle of the night.
7. Monitor the water temperature. The temperature in the bathroom should first be at a comfortable range, and the person’s body should be adapted to it before testing bath water temperature. Water should generally be just a degree or two higher than one’s body temperature. When bathing a child, always wait until the tub is finished filling up before placing your child in the water, as the temperature can change. Set your home's water heater to deliver water no hotter than 120 degrees to lower the risk of scalding. If you don't have control over the heater, buy an anti-scald device that attaches to the faucet. ​

"The bathroom is the most dangerous room in your house. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 370 people of all ages have shower- or tub-related accidents every day.
​In addition, according to a study by the University of Michigan, 1 out of every 3 adults over age 60 have trouble getting in and out of the bathtub."

AARP has put together a helpful bathroom checklist that could come in handy. You may review the list, here.

If you have questions on how to make your bathroom safer, maybe by installing a spa-style tub or a new toilet, give us a call at 214-328-7371 or contact us, here.