Bathroom Safety

Why is bathroom safety important?

Bathrooms are a particularly dangerous part of the home. Common bathroom accidents include scalds, fainting from heat, falls on slippery floors, poisoning, and head injuries from falling against bathroom fixtures.

Bathroom floors

Linoleum or tile on bathroom floors can be slippery even when dry. A loose rug, sock, or soft slipper can easily slide on it. Bathroom floors can be especially slippery if they get wet. It is not always easy to see the wet area.

Nonslip floors in the bathroom will help prevent slips and falls.
Don't have loose rugs on bathroom floors.

The bath and shower

Getting in and out of the bath gets more difficult as you get older, especially if you are overweight. Don't lock the bathroom door, in case you need help. Tools that can make your bath and shower safer include:

Nonslip pads or strips on the bathtub and shower floor help prevent falls.
Grab bars provide stability and a strong handhold. They must be long and wide enough to grasp easily, with a nonslippery grip. Grab bars should be strong enough to withstand the stress that will be placed on them.
Bathtub safety rails help you get into and out of a tub safely, and eliminate stooping. Bathtub safety rails must be clamped firmly to the bathtub. They must provide a firm, nonslippery grip.
Bath and shower stools or seats and transfer benches are helpful for those with balance problems or weaker muscles. Shower stools must have rigid seats and backs. Legs should have rubber tips.
Handheld showers can be used to direct water over your body while remaining comfortably seated on a stool or in a tub.

The toilet

It can be difficult to get on and off a low toilet. Special toilet seats are available that will fit over a regular seat to make it higher. A grab bar will also help. Many falls occur when a person is rushing to get to the toilet. It is easy to skid on a wet floor or a loose mat around the base of the toilet.

Do not use a towel bar as a grab bar.
Install a grab bar close to your toilet.
Use the toilet before it becomes a matter of urgency.

Water temperature

Water does not have to be boiling to cause a scald. Always test the temperature of the bath or shower water with your hand before you get in. The heat from the hot water in the bath or shower could make you lightheaded, so don't stay in the water too long.

Check the water temperature before you get into the bath or shower.
Have your hot water heater thermostat set below 120°F.
Keep a small chair or stool in the bathroom so you can sit down if you need to.

Electrical safety and lighting

Don't have a plug-in radio, a compact disk player, or a cassette tape player near your bath.
Don't allow electric cords to trail where people can trip on them.
Always have good lighting in your bathroom.
Have a night light in your bathroom.

If you have young children in the home, consider installing a hook-and-eye lock high up on the outside of the bathroom door. Keep it latched when you are not using the bathroom. Remove razors, scissors, and blow dryers from the bathroom. Keep them in an adult's bedroom or locked in a cupboard out of your child's reach. Make sure that your bathroom outlets are covered just as they should be elsewhere in your house.

To prevent poisoning, do not rely on child-resistant caps. Keep all medicines, including vitamins, in a locked closet or up high and out of reach. Keep toilet bowl cleaners, drain openers, and other cleaning supplies in cabinets with childproof locks or stored in a high and hard-to-reach cabinet.

When filled with water, bathtubs are a drowning risk for children. Never leave your child in the bathtub without adult supervision-even for a minute or two.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File PRV4651F.HTM Release 9.0/2006