2023-04-16 16:00:05
Do you know that the bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house? See how to reduce accidents there.
Taking a shower may seem like a harmless act. However, it contains some potential danger to integrity. There are bathroom safety tips to prevent accidents because falls can occur in wet areas, cuts with sharp objects, problems with electricity and even poisoning.
You have to have special reservations when there are older adults or small children, who are more prone to some type of accident. According to statistics, older people fall more often in bathrooms. And as the Buenos Aires Provincial Center for Children’s Health refers, the bathroom is also the site of various risky events for the health of children.
What are the most common accidents in the bathroom?
Among the most common accidents in the bathroom are falls. It is about slipping in the tubs or showers, due to humidity. More than once you will have suffered a slip yourself while bathing, so you will understand what we mean.
There are also more serious accidents, such as suffocation or unintentional drowning in bathtubs. The unfortunate thing is that children are often exposed due to lack of adult supervision.
Burns are another type of frequent accidents. They usually happen because the water is too hot or because there is an excess of steam that affects the skin.
In the bathroom there are also risks of electrocution. Remember that electricity and water are not good friends. If the area is very humid and you use an electrical appliance, such as a razor, there is a greater chance of having an accident.
Poisoning by chemicals or medicines are also common. It is common for people to keep their medications and cleaning chemicals in the bathroom. Therefore, again, children are exposed to accidental ingestion. According to Spanish records, there are commercial presentations of medicines that would be lethal in a single dose for children. So the risk of carelessness is not negligible.
5 safety tips to avoid accidents in the bathroom
There are ways to prevent events that could affect our health. So here are some safety tips to avoid accidents in the bathroom. See what they are.
1. Do not bring water and electricity close
Avoid electrical accidents by installing sockets, spotlights and their switches at a suitable distance and as far as possible from the waterfall. So there will be less contact between electricity and moisture. For a construction according to current regulations, contractors in Spain use the Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation.
Each geographical area usually has regulations in this regard that you can consult.
Also do not touch any artifact while wet. Do it when you are dry. So if you want to iron your hair, blow dry it or shave it, it is better to be patient.
Be sure to unplug electrical products when you have stopped using them. As well as putting them in another room where there is no water, once you decide to save them because they will no longer be useful that day.
2. Reduce slipping
Products such as shampoos, conditioners, gels or soaps may contain substances that make them slippery. Thus, Step firmly to avoid falls in the shower. In case you are not using them, cover them well to prevent them from spilling.
Step out of the shower in shoes with non-slip soles, which offer you greater stability. The idea is to increase balance. A good choice is non-slip flooring or non-slip strips that are glued to the shower or tub.
There is the novelty of anti-slip mats, which absorb moisture and increase adhesion to the floor.
Fall arrest supports can also be installed at the exit of the shower. These are metal pieces that you can hold onto to prevent any slipping.
3. Supervise children to avoid drowning
Never leave your little one unsupervised in the bathtub. According to surveys on these accidents, the absence of caregivers is a key risk factor.
You can install seats or bath rings in which the children sit to be in contact with the water, keeping still. In addition, there are recommendations set by pediatric professionals when it comes to bathing a baby.
Avoid leaving water in the bathtub when not in use. If the child is not there, open the lid and let the liquid run. Oblivion generates a space that the little one could approach and fall into.
Make sure you have all the necessary things for the bathroom at hand. That way you won’t have to run out of the room to look for what you forgot.
In case you need something, it is preferable that you wrap your little one in a towel and go with him.
4. Regulates the water temperature
Adjust the temperature of the heater so that it does not go above 45 ° CThus, this type of accident can be avoided. If you don’t have a heater, insert your elbow or the inside of your wrist to test how hot the water is. If you have a little one, teach him to open the cold water tap first and then the other.
5. Store medications safely
Store your medications in a tall cabinet, that it is not easy for children to reach and that it has a key or some type of extra security. Try to also put security in the containers you use to deposit medicines, such as jars or lunch boxes.
Do not store everyday items with the medications. By this we mean toothpaste, soaps or shampoos. You should have a cabinet for each type of product.
Bathroom Safety Tips for Safer Home
The best advice to avoid any type of accident is supervision, forecasting and the use of mechanisms that already exist in the market. It is interesting to take advantage of the recommendation of the Spanish Ministry of Health on how to maintain an attentive conduct:
- Warn: if there is an imminent risk or a situation that could lead to harm.
- Appreciate: establish in our mind if the risk is real and what consequences there would be.
- Adopt a safe attitude: act accordingly to what we recognized as risky.
Accidents are chance events. However, despite the fact that they can happen, we have elements on hand to be more secure.
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