Considering bathroom safety is essential for every age group. Be it kids, seniors, or adults. Negligence can be hazardous when it comes to bathroom safety.
There are several safety measures that every individual must keep in mind while designing a bathroom or renovating it. If no measures are taken, then at least re-evaluate the safety essentials required or currently installed in your bathroom.
You should never leave any room for any potential mishaps. Records show that 80% of non-fatal and fatal injuries like spinal cord injury, fractures, and brain injuries happen in the bathroom.
In order to ensure the safety of your friends and family, you need to have the following types of equipment installed in your bathroom and carry out some changes in the design that will help you improve the room’s overall safety.
Some types of equipment and upgrades that can save you and your family from accidents and severe injuries are:
Grab Bars
Grab bars have been proven time and again to be the best assistant in the bathroom. It helps you avoid dangerous slips and falls if you lose balance.
Grab bars are available in different sizes and shapes. Depending on where you live you may have to install building code compliant grab bars from trusted names like ASI Bobrick or Gamco.
The following are the most popular types of grab bars that most people install:
- L- Shaped grab bar
- Swing-Up grab bar
- Straight grab bar
- Swing-Up grab bar with toilet paper holder
- Flip-Up grab bar
You can install grab bars in relation to the space and requirements involved. A good idea is to install the L-shaped and straight bars near the basin and shower area.
You can also install it on the walls near the commode and the bathtub. Installing them in these areas will help the elderly and those who find it difficult to sit, stand, and generally move around the bathroom be more comfortable and have a safer experience.
Grab bars prevent people from tripping on the wet floor and they provide support to people of all ages with mobility issues.
They provide holding strength and give the person a sense of security while they’re taking care of their personal business without the need for another person’s help.
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Handheld Showers
Handheld showers are extremely easy to handle. They are not only beneficial for washing cleaning, but they also help clean the shower area and bathroom after using them.
Children and the elderly can sit and bathe with convenience. It is a handy piece of equipment that really helps the disabled when bathing.
Anti-Slip Floor and Mats
Always select anti-skid flooring tiles for your bathroom. These types of tiles have a rough surface which reduces the chances of slipping.
You can choose different styles like matt finish tile, anti-skid porcelain tile, anti-skid ceramic tile, and much more. A matt finish flooring is good at offering anti-slip features.
If you don’t have these tiles and are not interested in doing a renovation, no need to worry. You always have the option of anti-slip PVC bathroom mats and anti-skid tape.
Simply stick the anti-skid tape at equal distances on the floor in the bathroom area which will substantially reduce tripping.
Anti-skid mats have suction cups and drain holes. You can also place a microfiber anti-skid matt after the PVC matt which will help dry the feet and reduce slipping accidents.
Bathtub and Shower Safety
Apart from installing grab bars in the shower and near the toilet, you can add a Clamp-on grab bar and safety rail on the bathtub.
You can add shower seats and bath chairs, and a bathtub transfer bench too. All these extra features can help people with mobility issues get around the bathroom more easily and freely.
If you don’t have too much in your bathroom, you can add a folding shower bench. You can even build a permanent shower seating/bench with ceramic or stones like marble and granite.
Walk-in tubs are comfortable for the elderly and children too. With these types of tubs, people don’t have to lift their feet to get in and out, they can walk in and enjoy bathing without any tension of tripping.
Proper Illumination
A well-lit bathroom is essential to prevent stumbling and falls. You can add sensor lights on the way to the bathroom and in the bathroom too.
Also, you can install motion-activated toilet-seat sensor lights. Sensor lights will illuminate when you walk into the bathroom and automatically switch off after a while when there is no movement.
It’s a good idea to see if there is sufficient light in your bathroom so that everything is visible. This will also reduce bumps and falls.
Cabinets and Accessories
Keep electrical beauty appliances like dryers, curlers, and electric razors away from the sources of water and out of reach of children. It is better to keep them in cabinets on a separate wall away from taps or showers.
Also, keep all your bathing accessories and medicines in a medicine cabinet. Use safety locks for cabinet doors so that children don’t have access to the cabinets.
Simply follow these safety measures and make your bathroom safe for your family!
