IS YOUR BATHROOM SAFE ENOUGH?

Keeping up with your hygiene is a very good idea, but watch your step. Is your bathroom safe enough? Are you guaranteed that you have less than 5% likelihood of an accident in your bathroom? With its slippery floors and hard surfaces the bathroom is actually one of the most dangerous places in your home. It is estimated that about two-thirds of accidents at home happen in the bathroom. This is a depressing fact because many people do invest on designing attention-grabbing bathroom interiors but fail to pay attention on the safety.
It is important to equally focus on safety as well as the aesthetic purposes of your bathroom. 
Protect yourself and your family by following these tips:


1. Maintain cleanliness in the bathroom. Be sure to keep the tub clean to counteract slippery soap scum or mold. 

2. Keep the bathroom floor dry and ensure that it always stays dry after use. By doing so you reduce the risk of slipping. A weighted shower curtain will help ensure that no water leaks on the floor.

3. Ditch your throw rugs. These slippery floor coverings are the number one cause of accidents in households. If you cannot part with them, you might as well secure loose rugs with double-faced tapes, tacks or slip resistant backings.


 

















4. Utilize non-slip strips, mats or tiles in your tub and shower to help prevent falls. To combat tripping, secure any loose corners.


 
















5. Install grab bars around the bathtub, shower and toilet. If this is done correctly, they'll help you balance as you stand or sit and give you something to hold on just in case you slip. They come in a wide range of textures, lengths and styles. Note that a towel bar or soap dish is not a grab bar because they are not designed to hold your weight.
















6. Your bathroom should be adequately lit during the day. At night, put a nightlight on the path to the bathroom. Within the bathroom, use a nightlight, or install an illuminated switch.

7. Equip your shower with a handheld or adjustable shower head. You can maneuver it where you want it, minimizing your movement in the shower.

8. Take your time.
The more you hurry, the more likely you are to slip and fall.