Bathroom Safety for Children and Seniors

You want your bathroom to be a calm and relaxing haven, but without adequate attention to safety, it could turn into a potential disaster zone. With the dangerous combination of shiny surfaces and hard-edged fixtures, water and electricity, you need to take care at the planning stages of a remodel.

This fact is compounded in cities like Boston and Staten Island where space is already at a premium. Below are a few basic safety tips to consider when planning your next bathroom renovation.

• Plan your electrical fittings carefully in consultation with a qualified electrician who will be able to advise you on official regulations and requirements. As a general guideline, ensure that standard fittings cannot be reached from the bath and that fittings don't come into contact with water. Lightbulbs should be adequately protected from splashes, moisture and steam. Buy specially designed bathroom lights and always use low-voltage fittings.
• Remember that shiny floors become slippery when wet so invest in specially treated non-slip flooring or use mats with non-slip rubber backing to absorb splashes and prevent falls.
• Try to ensure that baths and showers have ridged or textured surfaces, otherwise use non-slip mats. Hand rails near the bath and shower are useful safety additions.
• Potentially dangerous substances should always be locked away or in a child-proof catch.
• Fit anti-scalding regulator controls or thermostats to maintain an evenly heated water supply at all times. Try to ensure that hot water taps cannot be easily reached by small children. Hot water pipes should be boxed in to prevent accidental burns.
• Think about height restrictions. Small children may bang their heads on low basins. Cabinets and shelving should not be placed directly over a toilet, bidet or bath where they could pose a potential danger to somebody standing up quickly. Also, items could fall from cupboards or shelves and damage fixtures.
• Fixtures with rounded edges are safer than those with sharp corners, particularly in a small bathroom where they can cause injury to somebody who slips against them.
• Ensure your bathroom is equipped with adequate ventilation. If steam is allows to collect it will encourage the growth of mold and mildew. If you don't have a window that opens, you may legally be required to install an extractor fan.
• Fit door locks that can be opened from the outside in case anybody becomes locked in the bathroom. Alternatively, keep a spac

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