Make Your Bathroom Safer

January is Bath Safety Month.  Yes, I know -- there seems to be a month devoted to awareness for just about every problem.  But this one actually deserves a little attention.  Falls at home injure millions of Americans every year, but here are simple things you can change inexpensively in your bathroom to make it safer [1].

• Use a non-slip mat or install adhesive safety strips or decals in bathtubs and showers.  If you use a bath mat on the floor, choose one that has a non-skid bottom.
• Install grab bars in bath and shower stalls [2]. Do not use towel racks or wall-mounted soap dishes as grab bars; they can easily come loose, causing a fall.
• Keep the floor clean [3] and dry. Promptly clean up grease, water and other spills.
• If you use throw rugs in the bathroom or anywhere your home, place them over a rug-liner or choose rugs with non-skid backs to reduce your chance of slipping on this very common trip and fall hazard.

For more ideas on making your whole house safer [4], check out our article "Preventing Falls at Home [5]".