Tip one: Take a look around. The fact is that more accidents happen in the bath than in any other room in the house. And don't think that because you don't have children or seniors in your home that having a safe bath isn't important, because it is. Think about what is in a bathroom. You have water, you have electricity, you have a medicine cabinet, combine these things and what do you get? You get risk. So, look at your bathroom and see if there are any obvious changes that should be made.

However, before you head off to the nearest home center with a list of bath safety items to be purchased, look around your bathroom and assess your situation. There are many safety precautions you can take before even leaving your house. A few questions to ask yourself include:

 Is the water heater set at 120 degrees F or less to prevent scalding? If you were to turn the faucet on hot, and stick your hand in, being scalded can lead to you jumping, slipping, hitting your head or worse.
 Are electrical outlets equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) that cut off the power source when shorted? This is huge if you do not want to get electrocuted or worse. So, check.
 Are your bathtubs and showers equipped with non-skid surfaces? One of the most common accidents in a bathroom is a slip. The floor gets wet, you take a shower, etc. and you run the risk of falling. So make sure you have non-skid surfaces.
 Do you use liquid soap instead of bar soap to prevent falls in the tub? Bar soap leads to falls, it slips out of your hand, etc.
 Do you have a phone in and/or near the bathroom in case of emergencies? What are you going to do if you are the only one home and you slip and break a leg or something? Do you have a way to call for help.
 Is there a nightlight in the bathroom to make it easier to see at night? A dark bathroom is not safe. You could slip, fall, trip on a rug, etc.

Tip two: Install storage situations that will provide for safe storage of supplies.

Tip three: Make sure if children use your bathroom there is constant adult supervision.

Tip four: Be careful around water.

Tip five: Be sure to swiftly clean any water spills, and wipe off slick surfaces.

Tip six: If you can only do a few things, start with the big stuff. Make sure your tub and shower are safe. A combination of water and slick surfaces can be an accident waiting to happen, so apply textured strips, skid mats, and rubber mats to reduce your chance of falling.

Tip seven: If you have sliding glass doors in your shower, they should be made of shatter-proof, safety glass or heavy plastic.

Tip eight: Install grab bars in the tub and shower. These can be quickly and easily installed.

Tip nine: When in doubt, ask! Go to your local home improvement store and see if they have any advice, or DIY clinics. Visit websites such as www.homesafetycouncil.org, or subscribe to a home improvement magazine.

Tip ten: use common sense. If you are smart about your bathrooms, you will be able to stay safe.