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Preventing Injuries: Home Safety Review
Bathroom
- Install grab bars on the bathroom walls near the toilet and along the bathtub or shower.
- Place a slip-resistant mat next to the tub or shower.
- Use a liquid soap dispenser.
- Place non-skid adhesive textured strips on bathtub or shower floor.
- Provide stability on the toilet with either a raised seat or a special toilet seat with armrests.
- Replace glass shower enclosures with non-shattering material.
Bedroom
- Clear clutter from the floor.
- Place a lamp and flashlight by the bed.
- Install night lights along the route to the bathroom.
- Provide a bed that is easy to get into and out of.
- Keep a telephone near the bed.
Living Areas
- Be sure there are clear pathways between rooms.
- Keep electric, appliance, and telephone cords out of passageways.
- Don't put wires under rugs.
Kitchen
- Remove throw rugs.
- Clean up spills and food as soon as they fall on the floor.
- Provide a step stool with an attached handrail for support.
- Use non-skid floor wax.
Stairs and steps
- Provide enough lighting.
- Keep flashlights available in case of a power failure.
- Install handrails on stairways.
- Consider motion-detector lights that go on automatically to light stairways.
- Put non-slip treads on each bare wood step.
- Replace patterned, dark or deep-pile carpeting.
- Do not place loose area rugs at the bottom or top of stairs.
- Repair loose carpeting immediately.
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