Here’s a question we probably don’t ask ourselves or hear too often – what is the most dangerous room in the house?
As surprising as it may sound, the only viable answer to this unusual question is the bathroom.
Yes, the smallest room in the house has even been officially deemed the most dangerous by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Apparently, it’s earned its reputation – according to data, most accidents happen among people over 15 years old, with a whopping 235,000 Emergency Room visits every year. That’s right – it’s also young men’s game.
Of course, there are plenty of factors that could be contributing to that phenomenon, like obesity, mobility issues, being under the influence, or a specific place where the accident occurred.
Be that as it may, it still sounds completely surreal – 235,000 ER visits annually…? How is that even possible?
Accidents happen
But where? Apparently, tubs and showers are the main danger zones in the bathroom - especially when getting out of them.
The vast majority of these incidents could be categorized as “slips and falls”. And as a bathroom floor can be prone to getting wet, this should come as no surprise.
Of course, their consequences vary – from simple bruises to fractures and even more serious injuries that require immediate medical attention.
It’s plain to see that by no means is it a joking matter and a rare occurrence.
There’s a huge misconception that these things happen mostly to the elderly or people with special needs, but in reality, slippery surfaces - as the main culprits - take no prisoners.
The most typical cause is simply rush or lack of concentration.
But accidents are not the only threats.
Shower curtains
They sound practical and frankly speaking – innocent enough. How can they pose any threat to our health?
Turns out, shower curtains made from vinyl potentially can.
Of course, there’s no reason to rush to the bathroom and throw it away quite yet.
One study suggested that when exposed to hot water or vapour they tend to release toxic chemicals in the air which, in turn, may have various adverse effects on our health – from eye irritation to asthma.
Admittedly, the study was somewhat inconclusive, nonetheless, this is a part of the reason why we at Misona always promote natural fabrics and materials, like our organic bath mat selection – they’re completely safe.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with shower curtains, it’s just much better to steer clear of synthetics.
Mould
Mould is one of the most commonly occurring issues causing a real headache to a large number of homeowners.
In many cases, one simple solution doesn’t exist, especially if it’s on the walls – you think you got rid of it for good and somehow - it comes back.
That’s why it can be a long and hard battle, but generally speaking, proper ventilation and keeping surfaces dry should be enough to keep it at bay.
One thing to bear in mind is that it’s not doesn’t just “look bad”, it’s actually dangerous, especially for those suffering from asthma or various allergies.
Bacteria
Much like in the case of mould, a wet and damp environment also creates perfect conditions for the growth of many different types of bacteria.
A bath mat has to be the easiest target - we normally don’t pay as much attention to them as to more stylish items, like ribbed towels. They’re more of a secondary accessory.
An instant dry bath mat can be a perfect answer to all these issues.
Just like the name suggests – it dries really fast (around 60 seconds) all on its own, because it’s made of diatomite, which is used as a natural pesticide thanks to its antibacterial and antimould properties.
Right there – two birds, one stone. Of course, some basic maintenance is important, especially for longevity, but all in all, it’s really easy and hassle-free.
Safety proofing your bathroom
When it comes to risks and accidents, the best practice is mitigation and prevention. Bathroom safety is no exception.
Of course, it’s crucial to implement a set of solutions to specific problems – there is no perfect answer to all of the dangers we might have to deal with in our bathrooms.
As we’ve already mentioned, slips and falls are the number one cause of accidents, and ones with the most severe repercussions, which is why it’s best to focus our efforts on this particular issue and prioritise it over anything else.
Slip protection
The first one is quite obvious and it’s investing in slip-resistant products for your floor.
Studies have shown that they are extremely effective in reducing the risk of accidents and subsequent injuries.
Since most of them happen when getting out of the tub or the shower, the first thing to do is to get something that can easily prevent falls by increasing traction – like our Organic Cotton Bath Mat with a non slip spray latex backing.
You can also purchase non slip underlay separately for your bath mats if you need that added layer of protection to give you peace of mind.
So, are bath mats necessary? Yes, apart from obvious aesthetic value, they can provide a level of safety and comfort that other products simply cannot match. This is a no-brainer.
Grab bars
There’s a bit of stigma when it comes to grab bars.
They’re often mostly associated with the elderly or people with mobility disabilities, but we shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss them.
As data shows, perfectly healthy and young individuals frequently end up in Emergency Rooms more often than we think.
Grab bars can be very practical, affordable and reliable. You can never be too safe, so why take this risk? Install grab bars to reduce the fall risk.
Shower chairs
A shower chair is chiefly for the elderly or people suffering from mobility issues.
It’s natural – muscles get weaker over time and problems with balance become more common.
That’s why additional support, which shower chairs undoubtedly provide, is so important on slippery surfaces.
Toilet lid locks
There is one more group we haven’t discussed yet – children.
A bathroom is a place full of quite dangerous chemicals, especially for completely oblivious of the potential consequences and overly curious toddlers.
In the early stages, education and raising awareness are typically totally ineffective, the only way is using physical barriers – that’s why we have safety gates for stairs.
Toilet seat locks work pretty much the same way and certainly serve the exact same purpose.
Think smart and safe
Bathroom safety is an important, yet very often completely neglected or overlooked topic.
That’s why awareness plays a key role in this matter.
It really doesn’t take much – neither effort nor resources – to turn the most dangerous room in the house into a safe, accident-free space.
