Does National Bath Safety Month really exist?
Yes, January is really commemorated as National Bath Safety Month in the United States. We often take bathing as just another routine daily activity without putting much thought into the dangers that accompany it. But the bathroom is considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the house, especially for the elderly and disabled.
In this article, we will share a few tips that can help you to improve Bathroom Safety in your house.
Bomb the Bath
The very first tip for bathroom safety is to replace the bath with a shower if possible. Getting in and out of a bathtub is simply more troublesome, and therefore more dangerous, than the shower. For that reason even many frail care centres and old age homes are replacing bath tubs with showers.
“Proof” the Bath and Shower for Bathroom Safety
If replacing the bathtub with a shower is not possible, there are devices that can assist in making the bathtub safer. Additionally, the shower can be made safer as well.
Grab Rails
Add grab bars in easy-to-reach places to assist in entering or exiting the tub or shower. Carefully ensure that grab bars are properly fastened. For extra safety these grab bars should have a slip-resistant surface, or add gripping tape to existing grab bars and other slippery surfaces.
Transfer bench
A transfer bench can be a great assett in assisting an elderly or disabled person to enter and exit the bath or shower.
Bath Chairs
In addition to the transfer bench, which doubles as a bathing or shower chair, other types of bath chairs are also available for assistance in bathing.
Shower chairs
Special shower chairs can be another great help to those who are slightly more mobile, but still need assistance. Some of these chairs can be permanently mounted to the shower wall and be flipped up or down as required.
Slip resistant bathroom safety mats
Putting slip resistant mats in the bathtub, shower and bathroom floor can greatly reduce the risk of falling. This holds true for all people not only the elderly and frail.
Check the lighting
Make sure that the general lighting in the bathroom is sufficient. In South Africa, with loadshedding becoming the norm, installing emergency lights (or globes with battery back up) in the bathroom is as important as installing them at the staircase.
Toilet safety
In addition to grab rails around the toilet, a raised toilet seat can also increase safety by reducing the distance and effort needed to sit and stand.
By adding some of these bathroom safety measures to your home, you can transform your bathroom into a safer place for elderly, frail, or disabled residents and visitors.
For more information or advice regarding bathroom safety or any other frail care related queries, please do not hesitate to contact your Summit Surgical consultant.