Is your bathroom full of potential life-threatening hazards? Consider hard surfaces (toilet, tub, counter, towel racks) that can take quick hits when descending after a fall. Or the loose rugs that make that room so cozy…and so deadly when feet get tangled up in them. Falls account for nearly 6,000 deaths each year and 5.1 million injuries. It takes a fraction of a second, a miscalculated step, a few drops of water on the ground, or many other combinations to set this potentially life-altering event in motion.

Showers and the elderly or disabled can be absolutely clean or surely injured if care is not taken to ensure safety. A fall can cause a downward spiral in quality of life and independence. To avoid becoming one of the nearly 5.1 million who are injured from falls, follow these 10 safety tips. Everyone will benefit.

Safety Tip #1

Water tends to stay for a while even in dangerous places. You MUST have a bath mat outside the shower. Rubber or safety grid mats provide secure traction on wet surfaces, are stiffer than nice rugs, and are safer with walker use.

Safety Tip #2

Glass can be just as deadly as water. Many bathtubs have sliding glass doors. Remove them (and the frame that can trap fragile fingers) and replace them with a shower curtain rod and shower curtain. There are several reasons for this, the most important being the danger of cuts, bleeding and potential death from falling into that glass.

Safety Tip #3

When balance and strength are an issue, a bathtub transfer bench eliminates getting in and out and allows easy access from the seated position at all times. This will not work with glass doors or in a shower stall. Bathtub transfer benches are NOT shower or bathtub chairs, they fit completely inside the bathtub or shower.

Safety Tip #4

Today’s economy calls for money-saving measures from every angle. The medical team does not have to be the exception. Your most basic shower bench or tub chair will be the cheapest. However, prices go up when you add a backrest, armrests, and other accessories. (Remember that Medicare considers the entire ensemble a luxury, with the exception of a 3-in-1 bedside dresser.) Avoid the cost altogether by using a plastic patio chair! You probably have one, with a back and arms too!

Safety Tip #5

Regardless of the type of bench or chair you use, ALWAYS also use a non-slip mat. This mat MUST support each leg of your chair or bench (inside the tub), especially if you are using a plastic patio chair. The seat height is not adjustable on a patio chair, which tends to put more pressure against the slippery floor to try to stand on. Be careful and grab the bars.

Safety Tip #6

Diagonal support bar placement should be avoided. The general rule of thumb is that to get up from a seated position, position the bar horizontally. To help get in and out, position the bar vertically. Diagonal placements can allow frail hands to slide down onto the very help it was designed to help. Smart placement is the key.

Safety Tip #7

Built-in shower seats look good in a picture, but in reality they can turn into a water slide. Simply place a folded towel on this surface to provide more traction. Yes the towel gets wet and yes it pads a fragile butt and yes your loved ones will thank you.

Safety Tip #8

Suction cup grab bars are great! BUT…if you need moderate help getting in and out of the tub, stick with a grab bar installed. Suction cup bars are not fail-safe and can pull tile out of a wall with the proper load. However, no tools are required to set them up, they are completely portable and feature flexible repositioning as needed.

Safety Tip #9

Don’t trust your safety to the shower curtain rod, towel bar or shower towel rack. These were designed to hold a wet towel at most…and everyone who needs help with the grab bar weighs more than a wet towel. Keep in mind, however, that when building or modifying for safety, installed grab bars make good towel racks and can later be doubled for your purpose.

Safety Tip #10

Consider the healthy effects of a shower, even sitting on a bench. Water of various temperatures on the body can be soothing, calming and healing much more than we think. Your safety is number one. Protect your health too. Be persistent in gaining the strength, balance, and mobility necessary to enjoy this healthy aspect of life.

Over 70% of all falls in a home occur in the bathroom, making it one of the most feared rooms in the house. However, the need for the bathroom remains. move along confidence and confidence with these 10 safety tips.