Electricity and water do not mix. Operating electrical appliances in or near water can cause electrocution and result in severe injury. Therefore, the bathroom is a dangerous location for electrical appliances, especially for children who may not take the care needed to prevent electrocution.

• Avoid using electrical appliances in the bathroom.
• Ensure hands are dry when touching appliances or switches.
• Never use or leave where they can fall into the bath or basin.
• Never leave children unattended with hairdryers, straighteners or electric razors.
• Use power point covers to cover all empty outlets.

Falls are the most common cause of injury to children. The risk of falls can be increased in the bathroom due to wet floors, wet feet and lack of care.

• Place non-slip mats or stickers on the bottom of baths and showers to give extra grip.
• Non-slip tiles can be used to provide extra grip when getting out of the bath or shower.
• Material bath mats should be rubber backed to prevent them from slipping out under children’s feet and causing falls.

Safety is a key issue with bathroom heating. Do not use portable heaters in the bathroom – Radiant strip heaters must be installed high on the wall, and floor level panel heaters must not be covered. A very effective and safe option is one of the excellent fan, radiant lamp and light combination fixtures. A heated towel rail rewards you with the pleasure of dry, warm, fluffy towels.

Hot tap water scalds can leave lifelong scars. More than 90% of scalds from hot tap water occur in the bathroom. At 60°C Hot tap water can cause a full thickness scald to a child’s skin in less than a second.

• Hot water should be controlled to a maximum delivery temperature of 50°C, which is the recommended temperature for preventing hot tap water scalds. Temperature control devices can be purchased, or the delivery temperature set to a maximum of 50°C by a plumber.
• When running a bath, turn the cold tap on first, then the hot to bring the bath to the temperature required, and then finish with cold to cool the spout.
• Test the temperature of the bath before placing a child in the water – recommended bath temperature for babies and children is 37°C.
• Turn hot water taps off tightly.
• Child resistant taps can be purchased, or tap covers can be placed over tap handles to stop children turning on the tap.

When bathrooms are not in use, doors, locks and out of reach handles can restrict children’s entry into the bathroom and cupboards where hazardous items can be found

• Keep the door closed when the bathroom is not in use.
• Ensure the bathroom door is unlockable from outside the room.
• Door knob covers can be placed over door handles to prevent young children from opening bathroom doors.

Many poisonous and hazardous items are kept in bathrooms. Soaps, shampoos, deodorants, and medicines can all be poisonous, while razors and scissors pose cutting and piercing risks. The way to prevent these injuries is to remove the objects from children’s access.

• Install child resistant locks on bathroom cupboards and drawers where personal hygiene products and medicines are stored.
• Locks will prevent poisoning as well as finger jam injuries.
• Install a child resistant medicine cabinet in either the bathroom or bedroom. Medicines such as paracetamol, sleeping pills or contraceptive pills should not be left in bathroom cabinets or in drawers.
• Never refer to medicines as lollies and look for products in child resistant containers – but remember child resistant is not child proof.

Toilets are a water vessel that many people do not consider when eliminating drowning hazards in the home. Toddlers often have a curiosity about the toilet and may attempt to peer inside or play in the water. Due to the toilets shape and amount of water that it contains, inquisitive toddlers are at risk of falling in, becoming stuck and potentially drowning in unsecured toilets.

• Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the water.
• A toilet lid lock can prevent young children from opening toilet lids and prevent toys from being flushed.
• Keep the toilet door closed to restrict access to very young children.
• Use non-slip mats on floors to prevent falls in the toilet.