Stay Safe With Bathroom Grab Bars

Everyone has seen the grab bars installed in the handicapped stalls of public restrooms, but few people consider how handy it would be to have these safety devices in their own home. It's mostly accepted that as we get older, we can lose the agility that we had in our youth. It's easier than ever to lose your balance and take a fall when you least expect it, often breaking a hip or even suffering from multiple broken bones or a concussion in the process.

A Safety Measure

Bathroom grab bars are a perfect way to stay safe in the bathroom. Did you know that more people fall in the bathroom, especially in the area around the bathtub and shower, than anywhere else in the home?

Grab bars give you something to hold onto when you feel as if you are about to lose your balance. Everyone in the family, children and adults, can benefit from having them installed to help them feel more secure when climbing in and out of the bathtub or shower.

Do It Yourself

Grab bars are also very handy when installed next to the toilet. As anyone with arthritic knees would tell you, sometimes a little assistance is very much appreciated when trying to sit down on or get up from the toilet. No one can predict when they might stumble and fall, and having a grab bar in place could save you a trip to the hospital.

You can install bathroom grab bars yourself - it's easy! If you can put up a towel rack, you can mount a grab bar... there's not much different in the way it's done. The main point to remember is to make sure that you anchor your grab bar to the studs in the wall. This gives the bar stability, which can be crucial. No one wants to make a wild grab for the bar to stop a fall, and have it pull out of the wall and hit the floor with you!

Install In The Right Place

Do be sure that you install bathroom grab bars in the right place. Take into consideration the height of the person who will be using the grab bar the most when deciding where the best mounting place will be. But, what if there isn't a wall stud behind that perfect spot that you've picked out? You can always place a block of wood between two wall studs in order to create a solid area for the grab bar. But, to do this, you will need to make a small hole in the wall in order to put the wooden block into place.

If this isn't an option, you can use toggle bolts to fasten the grab bar to the wall covering. It won't be as sturdy, as there is nothing to hold the grab bar but whatever material the wall is made of. Still, if the wall covering is thick enough, this should work well.

You need to test your grab bar installation to make sure it will hold when someone really has need of it. Have someone standing by to help catch you if needed while you pull on the grab bar with all of your might.

Make sure that the bathroom grab bars you install are really grab bars, and not towel bars. Grab bars are specially made to support up to 250 pounds if they have been installed correctly. Don't take a chance with the safety of someone you love! Choose a quality bar - or two - or even three! They are an excellent way to prevent dangerous falls.

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