After a long day at work or taking care of the kids, there is nothing better than stepping into the bathroom for an evening of relaxation. Between the bubbles and moisturizing sheet masks, have you ever stopped to think about the potential dangers of the bathroom? This National Bath Safety Month, the Responsible Flushing Alliance wants to help you keep the bathroom a safe sanctuary.
It’s important to keep your home happy and healthy for guests young and old. An injury from a slip is more common than you think – did you know over 800,000 people end up in the hospital because of a fall each year? Here is what you can do to prevent a trip to the E.R.
Ways To Prevent Slips in the Bathroom
Mats
Shower or bathtub mats are made of plastic or rubber and can be suction cupped to the floor of any tub or shower. They have ridges and holes to create a textured surface and make the ground less slippery. Meanwhile, cloth bathmats or carpets can be placed near sinks and bathtubs to catch water and create textured surfaces too. Just make sure to look out for wet wipes under your feet!
Handrails
Handrails can be installed in the shower, near the toilet or sink, and anywhere else that requires moving around. These are a useful tool for disabled and elderly family members, or anyone needing a little extra stability, providing support as you move from one spot to another. They also give you something to grab onto should you start to slip.
Seats
Seats or benches can be permanently fastened into the shower itself or be removable items used by specific family members. They provide a place to relax and take weight off your feet. By not standing, you’re much less likely to fall victim to a slip.
#FlushSmart Tip: Prevent Toilet Overflow Puddles Now we know what safety measures you can take to prevent slips and falls. But what can you do to prevent puddles in the first place?
The bathroom abounds with non-flushable items of all different kinds, from bath wipes to sheet masks to makeup removing wipes. While it may be tempting to toss them down the toilet, poor flushing habits —meaning flushing items like these! – can lead to clogs in our pipelines, preventing water and waste from reaching the sewage system. Those clogs eventually cause backups… resulting in leaks flooding our bathrooms and creating hazardous puddles that lead to slips and falls.
The best way to prevent these dangerous leaks and puddles is to #FlushSmart by making sure you are practicing good bathroom habits. We recommend taking a look at packaging to check for the “Do Not Flush” symbol. That way, you will always know if a product is safe to flush. You can also look below for a quick list of what not to flush:
What Not to Flush:
• Baby Wipes or Household Cleaning Wipes
• Paper Towels, Facial Tissue, Plastic Bags
• Fats, Oils, and Grease
• Food, Trash
• Pads, Rags, Cloth, Disposable Gloves
• Cotton Balls, Cotton Swabs, Dental Floss
• Feminine Products
• Hair/Hair Weaves
• Medications/Syringes
With its #FlushSmart consumer education campaign, the Responsible Flushing Alliance is dedicated to keeping homes and communities healthy through proper flushing practices. This includes supporting clear and prominent labeling of all items that should not be flushed, including promotion of the “Do Not Flush” symbol on non-flushable wipes.
For more information, go to http://www.flushsmart.org or @flushsmart on Twitter or Facebook.
About Responsible Flushing Alliance
The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) is a 501 (c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to consumer education focused on what not to flush. RFA’s goal is to change consumer behavior to help reduce damage to our nation’s sewage systems caused by objects and materials not designed to be flushed.
Responsible Flushing Alliance Contributing Members
Albaad Inc., ANDRITZ Group Nonwoven Division, DUDE Products, Essity, First Quality, Glafelter, Johnson & Johnson, Kelheim Fibres, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Nehemiah Manufacturing, Nice-Pak and PDI, Papel Aralar S.A., Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, Sellars Nonwovens, and Suominen Corp.