How to Accident-Proof a Bathroom | The majority of household accidents take place in the bathroom. Taking precautions and making some simple upgrades can help prevent potentially serious mishaps. Follow these steps to accident-proof the bathroom.
Prevents slips and falls in the bathroom. Use rugs that are rubber backed or have a nonskid backing, and add bathmats or adhesive decals to prevents slips in the tub or shower (the rough areas provided by manufacturers are not enough). Also attach safety grab handles on the walls to aid in entering and exiting the tub. In case somebody does have an accident and fall in the bathroom, use only shatterproof glass for shower doors.
Avoid electrical hazards. Water is a conductor, so you must be careful using electronic appliances in the bathroom. Do not operate any appliance or use light switches with wet hands; use battery-operated radios and compact disc players when possible; and if you do use electronic equipment, unplug these items as soon as you are finished using them.
Install grounded outlets if you do not already have them. If children use the bathroom, place childproof plastic plugs in outlets for safety.
Be able to get into the bathroom if you need to. Have locks that can be unlocked from the outside in case someone inside has an accident.
Place medications out of children's reach. Keep medications in their appropriate containers and throw them away once they have expired.
Avoid scalding in the shower by installing a mixing valve with a temperature and pressure regulator. This valve keeps hot water from dousing you in the shower when a toilet is flushed or water is used in other parts of the house.
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