Bathroom safety is an often underestimated aspect of owning a home. Although most people would assume their bathroom is a safe place, the mortality rate says otherwise. Falls, being the primary cause of bathroom related fatalities, claim over 6,000 lives in the United States per year and the trend shows no sign of slowing down. Fortunately, for homeowners new and old, subtle renovations can greatly reduce the dangers associated with bathroom usage and potentially save the lives of themselves and their loved ones.
Toilets
Toilets may seem harmless, but they are the cause for over 40,000 injuries in the United States alone. Not all of these injuries prove fatal, but statistically, there’s a 1 in 10,000 chance that they will, an alarming statistic given the average person’s amount of visits to the bathroom. If you’re one of the unlucky few that has sustained an injury while using the toilet, there are many ways to prevent it from happening again.
- Taller Toilets: Installing a taller toilet makes sitting down and standing up easier for those using it, lessening the risk of injury.
- Conscious Seating: If you share a bathroom, ensure that the seat is down after usage. This is not only polite, but a great way to avoid a broken hip from falling in.
- Keep it Clean: Always keep personal bathrooms clean and routinely maintained.
Showers
It should come as no surprise that showers have the potential to cause bodily harm. Surfaces are wet and slippery, visibility is compromised and those showering are often groggy and inattentive. Whether rushing to make it to work on time, or enjoying a luxurious rinse, shower users welcome risk into their daily routine upon turning on the faucet, but steps can be taken to lessen these dangers.
- Shower Chairs: Shower chairs come in all different shapes and sizes. Installing one is relatively easy and can offer a relaxing place to sit while showering.
- Grab Bars: Grab bars can either be installed permanently, or suction-cupped to the wall. They may not be the most decorative, but they increase shower safety tenfold.
- No More Tub: If you’re not much of a bather, consider putting in a walk-in shower. This eases entry and prevents tripping over the tub.
Floors
Wet floors are responsible for 15% of the accidental deaths in the US, making them one of the most dangerous surfaces people set foot on daily. In bathrooms, locker rooms and kitchens around the country, wet floors have taken thousands of lives. A wet floor sign may seem adequate when it comes to prevention, but as the death toll continues to rise, it’s apparent that other solutions are needed.
- Bathroom Mats: Bathroom mats and rugs need to be replaced frequently but can greatly reduce falling on the way in and out of the bathtub and shower.
- Upkeep: Keep floors properly mopped and clean, and when possible, put up a wet floor sign so that people are aware that the surface is compromised.
- Awareness: At the end of the day, awareness in the bathroom can be your saving grace. Although it’s easy to zone out on those drowsy mornings, don’t ever let your tired eyes result in your demise. And if you’re someone who shares a bathroom, ensure that it’s safe prior to people using it.
“Fortunately, for homeowners new and old, proper bathroom safety products can greatly reduce the dangers associated with bathroom usage and potentially save the lives of themselves and their loved ones.”
Author Bio: Jared Pennington suffered a bruised tailbone in high school after taking a spill in the locker room. He was fortunate enough to laugh it off, but he knows that other people aren’t so lucky. After he was defeated by a wet floor, he swore to never let anyone suffer the same fate in his bathroom at home.
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