Showers are one of the most dangerous appliances in your home. Every year, an average of 34,000 people end up in emergency rooms because of injuries they sustain while showering or taking a bath. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures that exist around our homes can be hazardous as well, but showers take top honors for being by far the deadliest household fixture in most homes.
If someone is injured in the shower, you can be sure that it’s not because they aren’t properly washing themselves. It’s because something else went wrong. Perhaps they slipped on a wet surface, tripped over an object or otherwise used faulty judgement to end up with two broken legs and a concussion. However it happens, the injuries are serious enough that most people won’t recover without some sort of long-term care. Even if your loved one puts on their clothes again after their injury, chances are good that they’ll never walk quite the same way again.
Your best bet is to take steps now so that you don’t have to worry about any of this when it’s your loved one’s turn to take a shower! Luckily, this article is here to help you protect both yourself and your loved ones from harm’s way when it comes time to step inside the shower. With these safety tips, you will be able to keep everyone in your home safe while bathing.
Bathing Tips
- When taking a shower, you should always keep at least one hand on the railings.
- If you have a portable shower chair inside your shower, make sure to sit down and keep both feet firmly planted onto the floor while you wash yourself.
- If possible, install grab bars or other products that can give you better support during your bath time.
- The use of non-slip decals and mats is also recommended, as these can prevent falls and slips from happening—especially when water seeps through the flooring of your bathroom.
Bathroom Hardware for Safety
If for whatever reason you feel like none of these safety measures were enough to protect your loved ones, we strongly recommend that you consider having an electrician install anti-scald devices such as pressure balance valves or thermostatic mixing valves.
- Pressure balance valves are pressure-sensitive devices that maintain a set water temperature by automatically moderating the volume of hot and cold water to achieve that desired setting.
- Thermostatic mixing valves deliver a mixture of hot and cold water into the fixture in order to control the final temperature.
Preventing Water Scalding Injuries
Pressure balanced valves are used to maintain constant water temperature in an effort to eliminate scalding injuries. These devices have proven effective when it comes to preventing scalding injuries. Studies have shown that hundreds of thousands of these types of accidents have been prevented with the use of anti-scald devices such as pressure balance valves and thermostatic mixing valves. Whether you want a pressure balance valve for your home or another type of anti-scald device, a local contractor can install it for you at cost-effective prices.
Don’t take any risks when it comes time for you or your loved ones to step inside a shower stall. Follow these simple safety tips and your home’s shower will be a safe place for many years to come.