If you’re a parent, you’ve already thought about minimizing or eliminating safety hazards in your bathroom and kitchen. With new, recently developed products, you can easily remove much of the risk. Start by taking a fresh look at your home while conducting a safety audit. Does your bathroom and kitchen have the following safety features?
Bathrooms
- slip-resistant strips in the tub and nearby to minimize the risk of slipping and falling
- grab bars in tubs and showers
- towels bars/rings close to the tub or shower
- impact-resistant safety-glass or plastic tub/shower enclosure
- shatter-resistant tub faucets that don’t have sharp edges
- recessed soap dishes (those that stick out from the wall can cause injury if a person falls against them)
- the new soft bathtub, which is made of impact-absorbing materials to reduce the risk of injury for young and old alike
- non-slip tile to reduce the risk of falling on a wet surface
- toilet latches to prevent children from opening the lid
- electrical outlets designed to automatically cut off power in the presence of water contact or faulty circuitry
- door hardware that can be unlocked from either side
- temperature-controlled faucets to avoid serious skin burns (typical faucets can produce water that is more than 120 degrees F, which can scald a child’s tender skin).
Kitchens
- a stove with difficult-to-reach top controls
- appliances, sharp knives and other sharp objects kept out of sight and reach in appliance garages, in-drawer knife blocks, and built-in storage units
- slip/impact resistant flooring to reduce injuries and lessen broken ceramic and glass
- cabinet latches to keep children away from dangerous products
