National Bath Safety Month

Because the home is the most common location for accidents to happen, and adding water into the mix just increases the risk – it’s vital for everyone to be attentive and practice safety precautions when taking a bath or shower.

National Bath Safety Month shines a spotlight on the risks for accidents and injuries that can happen particularly in the bathroom, encouraging each individual and family to take preventative action!

History of National Bath Safety Month

National Bath Safety Month has been celebrated for more than a decade, tracing its roots back to at least 2012.

The event was established to act as a reminder for individuals and families to pay attention to the risks associated with accidents related to taking baths and showers.

Parents of small children, along with elderly people who may have a tendency to slip and fall, are especially reminded during National Bath Safety Month to start the year right, maintaining healthy habits and safe bath time routines all throughout the year.

How to Celebrate National Bath Safety Month

National Bath Safety Month brings with it a number of different ideas and activities for people all over the globe to get involved! Take a look at some of these ideas and preventative action steps:

Parents Can Assure Safe Bathing for Children

Parents, guardians and others who are responsible for the care of small children should take National Bath Safety Month as an opportunity to check up on the safety precautions in their bathroom. Consider some of these to get started with:

• Install a rubber cover for the water spout to avoid head injuries
• Keep the water heater temperature at a safe level (no higher than 120F)
• Be sure glass doors are shatterproof
• Prevent slips with non-slip bath mats outside the tub and inside (with suction cups)

Prevent Drowning for Small Children

Statistics show that the most common place for small children to experience drowning is at home. Bath safety and care, especially for children under the age of 1, is vital for keeping babies safe and free from harm that could be caused by drowning.

Children need close and constant supervision during bathtime and parents should be fully prepared in case an emergency does happen.

This includes being CPR trained for infants, as well as knowing the local emergency access number.

Seniors Can Be Aware of Bath Safety

As a person gets older, they often have difficulties that can make bathing safely a bit more challenging. From balance issues to vision problems, there are a number of reasons people who are older might be more susceptible to accidents or injuries related to the bathtub.

Consider some of these principles and actions related to National Bath Safety Month:

• Install a safety bar in the bathtub or shower
• Have a special seat or chair installed in the shower or bath to prevent falls
• Utilize non-slip bath mats inside and outside of the tub
• Make lighting changes to help with clear vision