Danger lurks where you least expect it to. You are having a bath and suddenly the tap breaks and a high speed jet of water streams out plastering you to the wall, immobilizing you with shock (this happened to me). Or your maid has cleaned the bathroom floor but not washed the soap out completely. Any family member is going to slip and fall on the floor, maybe to disastrous consequences. A faulty wiring with electrical appliances can fling you two feet away with a jolt of current. (happened to me!)

So you would agree that having met two out of three possible hazards of the bathroom, I for one, am very wary of the dangers of the bathroom. And also a little OCD about it. My sister makes fun of me, but allow me to explain.

Of all the rooms in our house, the bathroom and the kitchen are the most hazardous. The kitchen for the obvious reason of fire; the bathroom for the other element that is a good servant but bad master – water. The bathroom has both soap and water in plenty, great ingredients for rich lather that thanks to gravity settles on the floor to make it slippery; there are sharp edged appliances like scissors and razors in the bathroom, can’t leave a kid in there all alone, electrical switches and appliances are many and should you not pay attention to these, you could have a tragedy in hand.   

As in all cases, being forewarned is being forearmed. In all my understandings and experiences of dealing with the bathroom and making it fool proof safe, I have come to a few conclusions which you could adopt in your life as well.

• Once in a while get an electrician to check all the sockets, wiring and appliances in your bathroom. This could include the heater, the electric shaver/razor, hair dryer, what have you. Make sure that your wiring is safe, insulated and if need be, change immediately.
• Be careful while plugging in geyser, ideally these should be at a high level, away from taps and far away from moisture.
• Call your plumber and check on the lifespan of your taps and faucets. I have been at the receiving end of a malfunctioning tap and believe me when I say it is like getting sprayed by water jets by the cops on the streets. I had a friend who sat on his commode and it broke. Don't ask what happened next. Check for cracks on basins, sinks, commodes regularly and replace them. 
• Install slip proof tiles and do yourself and the elders in your family a great favour. Water resistant and slip proof tiles are a plenty in the market, go for them. Also use rubber mats around the wet areas, to really really keep your floor dry and easy to use. I used to go to the extent of using a towel to wipe the floor so paranoid I was of slipping.
• Keep your bathroom clean. This doesn’t need much stressing. All of us know that water collected, dirty will cause moss formation, hard water will get lime deposit, slimy floors will cause accidents.
• If you have a kid at home, make sure that after they finish with the bathroom – as they love splashing water and your bathroom will look like a mini Jacuzzi whirlpool once they are out – you could make the bathroom dry again. Also they have a tendency to be a little careless with soap which will be on the floor and under your foot when you step in! So you need to do a good check up on the bathroom once your kid is done there.
• Keep cabinets locked when you have a kid at home. Put all sharp edged stuff in them, like scissors and razors. Especially razors and especially if you have a son. I used the razor on my eyebrow when I was 7 and am still nursing a scar on the eyebrow. It could have been worse, but … you get the drift.
• You need to keep lotions and mouthwashes, soaps and detergents in locked cabinets if you have a kid at home. Ideally don’t keep medicines in bathrooms.  
• Most importantly keep your bolt at a height from the inside if you have a child at home so he may not lock himself inside the bathroom. And similarly bolt your bathroom from the outside, at a high level bolt so that kids can’t enter the bathroom when you are away.
• Don’t let a kid less than 10 be in a bath tub on his own, without supervision.
• Before bathing small children make sure you test the hot water for temperature.
• Have proper lighting, keep it clean and invest in a working exhaust fan.