DO-IT-YOURSELF : Tub Safety: Taking the Bath of Least Resistance

Accidents in the bath account for 25% of all household mishaps. Slips, falls and hot-water burns top the list.

A little foresight and planning can help prevent many of these accidents, suggests Better Homes and Gardens Remodeling Ideas magazine.

To prevent slips and falls:

* Install grab bars inside bath surrounds and shower stalls.

* Put in shatter-resistant faucets that have no sharp edges. Cover the tap with an inflated plastic or sponge case.

* Install recessed soap dishes so no one bumps a head or gets cut.

* Mount faucets in shower-tub combinations 30 to 34 inches above the bottom of the tub so they can be reached from either a seated or standing position. For showers, mount faucets 48 to 52 inches from the shower floor. Fix shower heads 69 to 72 inches from the bottom of the shower (the shower head could serve as a grab handle if someone slips).

* Locate towel bars or rings 6 inches or less from entrances to a tub or shower.

* Install slip-resistant flooring.

* Consider installing a soft bathtub. They are slip resistant; if someone should happen to fall, they soften the blow. (Currently, only one manufacturer makes soft bathtubs--the Soft Bathtub Co., (800) 882-7638.)

To prevent burns:

* Set the water temperature no higher than 115 degrees. Install a pressure-balancing faucet; these faucets ensure that a constant water temperature is maintained in the shower, even if other taps or water valves in the system are turned on. (Most major faucet manufacturers now offer these.)

* People who plan to install a sun lamp or heat lamp should control it by a timer.

* Select passage hardware for bathroom doors that can be unlocked from both sides, so that an injured person or child can be easily reached.