We mostly think of bathrooms as a convenience. However, many people do not realize the hazards that bathrooms can present. When you combine tile, water, and hard counter tops, bathrooms can become dangerous places for people of all ages.
While the very young and old are more at risk for bathroom injuries, anyone can suffer from a variety of different injuries, including everything from burns to falls. Some common bathroom dangers include:
- Burns – when water is too hot, it can easily scald the skin and cause serious injury
- Drowning – children can drown in just two inches of water, so bathwater left unattended or even toilets can be hazardous
- Falls – when water splashes onto the floor, it can get extremely slippery and easily cause someone to fall
- Medication overdose – many people keep their medication in the bathroom cabinets, and children can climb onto the toilets and overdose on medicines
Staying Safe in the Bathroom
To help keep you and your loved ones safe, you should consider installing certain safety features in your bathroom. First, you can lower the maximum temperature output of your water heater to help avoid burns. Also, you may want to attach toilet latches to keep kids from playing around the commode.
To protect you from falling in your bathroom, you should lay nonstick, absorbent mats on the ground to help soak up spilled water. Also, the floor of bathtubs and showers can become slick, but you can install rubbery mats and textured strips to give you more traction in the tub. Lastly, you may want to lock your medicine cabinet or move it to a place that children cannot reach to keep them from accidentally poisoning themselves.
Sometimes, no matter how vigilant you are, a bathroom injury can occur that is out of your control. Things like malfunctioning bathroom equipment or a badly constructed restroom can put you in harm’s way. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bathroom, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to fight for your rights.
Contact Us
For more information about bathroom injuries, contact the Oklahoma personal injury lawyers of the Abel Law Firm today by calling (405) 239-7046.
