You may not think it, but your bathroom can be a dangerous place to spend time. There are many hazards about that could cause you to be injured, if you do not protect yourself from harm. The same applies to protecting other members of the household.

Falls, burns and even accidental overdoses can all happen in a bathroom. You need to take a look around your bathroom and make sure that there are no accidents just waiting to happen.

Preventing falls in the bathroom

There is always going to be water around in the bathroom, so you need to guard against slipping on it. Using non-slip mats on the floor helps with this. You can also limit the amount of water present by making sure there are no unwanted leaks. Check pipes and if you spot any problems speak to experts like Plumbing Detectives about resolving them. The sooner you do this, the better, as leaks do not just disappear on their own.

If you, or anyone in your household, has problems with mobility, you may need to adapt the bathroom accordingly.

• Fit a raised toilet seat.
• Install grab rails.
• Install a seat in the shower.

There is no 100% guarantee that you will not fall in the bathroom, but you can make it less likely to happen.

Making sure there is enough light

Not having enough light in a bathroom can also lead to falls and trips. It can also cause people to walk into things and turn on the wrong tap or turn the heat up to high. Everyone should be able to see clearly when they use the bathroom, at any time.

• Keep a flashlight in the bedroom for night time bathroom visits.
• Consider lights that turn on and off automatically when someone enters or leaves the room. This can also help to reduce your energy costs.
• Install task lighting around mirrors.
• Use maximum possible wattage and soft lighting.

It’s also important to ensure that everyone uses the lights that are available. It’s easy to simply rush into the bathroom and think that you can manage in the dark for a minute, but accidents can happen in seconds. It’s not worth the risk.

Keep dangerous items locked away

If you have children living in your home, it’s easy for them to get hold of things that they should not have, very quickly. Take time to make sure that potentially dangerous items, such as razors and medicines are locked away; safe from little hands.

By its nature, a bathroom can be a dangerous place. At any one time there can be water, sharp objects and medications in one small space. Accidents can happen, but you can reduce the risks that are present by making sure that your bathroom is a well-lit place with no trip hazards, reduced chance of slipping and potentially harmful objects locked away when necessary.

Published: 2018-10-10 12:36:45