Make Your Guests Feel at Home
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Before you know it, your house will be filled
with friends and family who’ve come over to help
you celebrate the holidays. You’ve probably already
given some thought to cleaning the place up to get ready;
but that may not be all you need to do.
Ask yourself, “Will all
of my guests be safe in the bathroom?” Approximately
70 percent of all accidents occurring in the home happen
in the bathroom -- which equals nearly 200,000 accidents
each year. The bathroom can certainly be a dangerous
place, but if you take a few simple steps, it doesn’t
have to be. Below, find ways to increase the safety
of your bathroom with ease and minimal expense -- and
without detracting from the beauty of your bath’s
décor.
Slips
To fight slick surfaces, place
a nonskid bathmat inside the tub or shower stall. This
will increase the friction between wet feet and the
floor or the inside of the tub or shower. Also put nonskid
rugs on tile floors to minimize slips.
Falls
Grab bars should be installed
near the tub or shower and next to the toilet for a
universally-safe bath. Whether it’s for young
children just starting to shower on their own, the elderly,
or someone suffering from a sports injury or recovering
from surgery, grab bars are items that are easy to install
and a huge helping hand. And if you have a senior in
your life, this is the best safety device you can install
for the elderly -- where falling is the leading cause
of injury resulting in death among people 65 years and
older, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention
and Control.
Worried installing grab bars will
make your bathroom look too institutional? Relax --
grab bars have come a long way. A new line of ADA-compliant
decorative grab bars from Creative Specialties International,
a division of Moen, come in a variety of designs and
finishes to fit any bath décor and are designed
to match the style and look of Moen’s popular
faucets and bath accessories.
Kid-proof
If you’ve got youngsters
in the house, label all cleaning agents and lock them
away. All medicines, even aspirin, should be put out
of children’s reach. Make sure hot and cold taps
are easily identified and put soft covers on tub taps
and spouts. You might also want to consider plugging
in a night-light in the bath for safer late-night visits
by little ones.
Bathtub
For anyone who has problems getting
into and out of the tub (think little kids, seniors,
even weekend warriors with a pulled muscle), you may
want to install a grip on the side of the tub wall for
easy bath tub “hurdling.” One to try is
the ADA-compliant Dual Tub Grip from Creative Specialties
International’s Home Care line of bath safety
items, which features a sturdy, no-wobble design and
two different handle heights for grasping -- so anyone
can easily enter and exit the tub. Designed with textured
grab areas shaped flat for better gripping, it clamps
easily onto the tub wall for a quick, tool-free installation
and removal without using any difficult or twisting
motions. It also features nonskid pads to prevent scratches
on the tub surface.
Temperature
We all enjoy a hot, steamy shower,
but it’s important to ensure that no one using
the shower or sink will be scalded. The American Academy
of Pediatrics encourages parents to set their household
water heater no higher than 120 F. For children’s
baths, there are a number of bath thermometers available
in the form of bath toys, to help determine when the
water is safe for a child to enter.
One thing we all want to avoid
is “shower shock” -- that quick change in
water temperature due to a change in water pressure,
brought about by flushing the toilet, turning on a dishwasher,
starting a washing machine, or any other immediate household
water usage. Many older shower systems do not have the
technology to fight shower shock. If your shower valves
are old, consider installing a pressure-balancing shower
valve, like the Posi-Temp valve from Moen. It has a
unique pressure-balancing spool to regulate water delivery
and keep shower temperature consistent, comfortable
and safe. The water remains a constant temperature (plus
or minus 2 degrees) despite demand.
Electricity
One thing is for sure -- water
and electricity don’t mix. Never install a light
switch in or near the shower, and don’t keep appliances
plugged in with cords long enough to reach the sink.
Another quick and inexpensive safety precaution is to
install ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent
electrical shock. These outlets cut off electricity
if water does get into an appliance. Also ensure that
you have childproof covers over all electrical outlets.
Make the bathroom a relaxing haven
for everyone -- with an emphasis on safety. With a few
adjustments and additions, you can ensure your bathroom
is designed with everyone’s safety in mind.
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