What could possibly go wrong? Water and electricity combined in one small, humid room. That is what you get with the bathroom hazards that make it the most dangerous room in your home. Wet floors and tub surfaces make an easy launching point and a hard landing.

Bathrooms Are Hazard Rooms

The most common hazards are clearly slip and fall accidents. For younger occupants the most dangerous area is the shower stall or the tub. For elderly residents it tends to be around the commode. These can result in sprains, bruising dislocated joints, cracked teeth and even broken bones.

This is not to underestimate the hazards in the rest of the home. Kitchens and stairways are particularly fraught. However, according to the centers for disease control, it is the bathroom that is the most hazardous, accounting for one third of all injuries and deaths.

Anything And Anyone

Age is relevant to this issue but don’t let that make you think that only special age groups are vulnerable. For elders the hazard is most severe both because of the hard surfaces that cause injuries and because of the difficulty associated with healing in old age. Anyone, in any condition can have an accident in the bathroom because of the unique mix of activities and water involved.

Simple commonsense additions such as bath mats can make the difference. Still, everyone can benefit from having adequate rails in the more slippery parts of the washroom of your home.

Do Not Let It Happen In Your Home

These are accidents that are predictable and largely preventable by the installation of non-slip matting and copious handrails. The addition of shower chairs or benches can make it easier to safely bathe and to enter and exit the tub or shower stall. A shower bench is a wide seat that can straddle the wall of a standard tub. This enables the user to slide across safely without risk of falling.

While it is true that there are hazards throughout the home, such as gas leaks, carbon monoxide among many others, the likelihood of slipping and falling in the bathroom is much higher. When you are aware of this you can address the risk with railings, seating and non-slip matting.