Contrary to popular belief, grab rails can benefit more people than only seniors. When it comes to falls and slips in the shower or bathtub, anyone can be a victim, especially children. While shower stalls and bathtubs look relatively safe, you’d be surprised by the number of people that slip and fall when climbing out of the bathtub or shower. If you think about it, most bathtubs require you to climb over the side, which is about half a meter high, and most showers have a high lip you need to step over. For some, this is not a problem at all. Whereas, for others with bad balance, such as children or seniors, this can seem like quite an obstacle. Thanks to grab rails and bathroom accessories manufacturers, there is a solution.

Regardless of your age, balance capabilities and reflex speed, having safety accessories installed in your bathroom is definitely a must. Rather be safe than sorry, especially if the accident is preventable.

Most bathroom accessories manufacturers supply grab rails that are manufactured using stainless steel to resist corrosion. The rails come in a range of sizes and some have additional textured edging for added safety. If you’re looking to have grab rails installed in your bathroom, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. For starters, if you are wanting to have a vertical bar installed at the edge of the bathtub, ensure that it is 500mm or longer. Whereas, for horizontal bars, ensure they are 800mm or longer. When selecting which bar to install, steer clear of the one’s that have more than a 100mm space between the bar and the wall.

Once you have determined the type of grab rail you would like to purchase from bathroom accessories manufacturers, as well as the size, you can start thinking about where you would like to place it. The general rule of thumb, when it comes to grab rails, is that you should install them in a place in your shower or bathtub that is the safest and most convenient. To best determine optimal placement, have everyone in the family that uses it stand inside the bathtub or shower. That way, you can eye-ball the placement and ensure everyone will be able to reach the rail. The rails should also be connected to wall studs. While some manufacturers do offer suction grab rails, they aren’t recommended. There’s nothing worse than slipping and grabbing the rail, only for the suction to rupture, causing you to fall and pull the rail off the wall.

Unfortunately, you cannot prevent every accident from happening. However, by having grab rails installed in your bathtub or shower, you can rest assured that, if someone in your family were to slip, you would vastly reduce the chances of them falling and injuring themselves. If you are interested in having one installed, contact one of the several bathroom accessories manufacturers in your local area to help you find the best method to improve the safety of your bathroom.