Consumer education remains the most practical and effective tool to reduce the number of accidents and deaths happening in the bathtub and showers.
According to a CDC report, in 2008 – almost 21.8 million people above the age of 15 sustained unintentional, non-fatal injuries. Of those injuries, the majority happened in the bathroom, specifically in the bathtub.
According to another study by CPSC – three major hazards associated with showers and bathtubs were:
- Slip and falls
- Drowning
- Burns
It’s no wonder that bathtub lawsuits are piling up in the country. Check out this news piece where the family recounted ‘a flawed bathtub design’ responsible for their family member’s drowning.
As part of the solution, this study made recommendations to manufacturers and consumers to meet those hazards. While tubs can be of any kind, from Japanese soaking tubs and baths to other common styles, it’s essential to take these three hazards under consideration and educate everyone.
Consumer education remains the most practical and effective tool to reduce the number of accidents and deaths happening in the bathtub and showers.
Almost all reports recommended guidelines development to combat the problem of slipping/falling. It also said that all kinds of tubs should have a slip-resistant standing surface. To that end, combining integral surfaces for new showers and tubs would focus on the development of retrofit products for already existing units.
The researchers further concluded that “appliqués, bath mats, and other integral surfaces that are supposed to be slip-resistant are not entirely successful in reducing the chances of accidents”
Anti-scald devices that eliminate water scaling and burn problems such as smooth and hammered copper sinks, apron front farmhouse style sinks, and under-mount stainless kitchen sinks were further suggested. The hot water temperature should be turned down to 120 degrees to prevent burns which is the 3rd most common bathroom hazard.
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