HOME SAFETY : Small Bathroom Poses Big Hazards

Though usually small in size, the bathroom plays a big role in home accidents as the site of falls, electric shocks, poisonings and scaldings. Here are some tips on preventing bathroom accidents:

Avoiding Falls

* Provide good lighting, including a night light. You can avoid hazards if you see them.

* Use only rugs or carpets with non-skid backing. In the tub or shower, use suction-backed mats or non-skid adhesive decals or strips. Don’t depend on rough patches already on the tub or shower floor.

* Install grab bars in the tub or shower and, if you have an elderly or disabled resident, next to the toilet. Fasten a grab bar to studs in the wall to ensure reliability. It must remain secured if a person’s entire weight is thrown on it.

* Use only shatterproof safety glass or heavy-duty plastic for your tub or shower. Check with a supplier about products with American National Standard Institute certification.

Preventing Poisoning

Prescription drugs and other medications can be a hazard for young children. Keep all medications, including vitamins, in childproof containers and out of the bathroom cabinet. Or equip the cabinet with a lock. Discard outdated medications.

* Store cleaning products in a high cabinet, top closet shelf or some other place inaccessible to young children--preferably one that is locked. Put cleaning products back promptly after use.

Preventing Scalding

* Never leave young children alone in a tub. They can easily fall or burn themselves by turning on the hot water tap.

* Always check water temperature before you enter a tub or shower. If your shower douses you with hot water when another tap is turned on or a toilet is flushed, have a plumber install a mixing valve with a built-in temperature and pressure regulator. Avoid burns by setting the water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Electrical Hazards

Water is an excellent conductor of electricity, so be very careful when using electricity in the bathroom.

* Plug unused electric outlets with plastic covers, which are available at hardware stores.

* Avoid using electric appliances, such as space heaters, hair dryers, tape players or radios in the bathroom. If someone insists on listening to music or news there, get a battery-operated model.

* Don’t operate light switches or use any kind of appliance, including a shaver, when your hands or feet are wet, or if standing on a wet rug.

* Most new appliances have built-in cords, but those on some older appliances detach. Unplug a cord from the wall first; a cord dangling from an outlet can cause severe shock if dropped into water. Unplug appliances as soon as you’re finished with them. Even better, when you buy new appliances, get cordless models.

* If your bathroom doesn’t already have them, consider installing ground fault interrupters (GFIs) to prevent the possibility of fatal shock. A GFI is a highly sensitive device that cuts off power almost instantly if there is any current leakage--well before the current flow can cause serious harm. A GFI can be installed by an electrician in a circuit-breaker panel to protect an entire circuit, or in a wall outlet.

Door Locks

* Privacy is less important than safety. If you must have a lock on a bathroom door, install a doorknob with an outside lock release.