About 25% of all emergency room visits stem from slips and falls, and most of them occur at home. Even more striking, seniors and young children are at the greatest risk, especially in the bathroom.
While there are several ways to beef up bathroom safety, our focus today is on equipping your showerhead with an anti-scald valve. That’s because when the water suddenly turns extra hot, people are inclined to move quickly and, on a wet shower floor, that can easily result in a fall.
What causes sudden water temperature fluctuations?
When a toilet is flushed, cold water flows into the tank and reduces water pressure in cold-water pipes. If someone is taking a shower at the same time, the reduced pressure can cause the shower water to turn extra hot – enough to cause an accident, including serious burns.
Of course, the reverse can happen, too. Someone’s taking a shower and suddenly the water turns colder while someone else turns on hot water in a sink or washing machine. These situations occur more frequently in homes with clogged or narrow plumbing pipes, and those with low-flow and multiple showerheads.
Anti-scald valves sense and correct for the sudden loss of cold water from a showerhead. They also can be installed in kitchen or bathroom sinks.
More bathroom safety tips and devices:
- Anti-slip tub or shower floor mats
- Anti-slip flooring, such as rubber or non-glazed tile
- Grab bars in and around the tub or shower
- Grab bars next to the toilet
- High-seat toilets so seniors don’t have to stoop as low, and have an easier time standing back up
- Bathtub benches
- Walk-in tubs
- Hand-held shower head, which reduces the amount of turning and twisting
- Child-proof locks on all lower cabinets and anywhere else medicines and household cleaners are kept
For more information on how Messmer Mechanical can help improve home safety, contact us today for an in-home consultation and no-obligation proposal.