Electrocutions in the bathroom are far too widespread to be ignored. Being one of the few places around the house where live electrical outlets and appliances are bound to come into contact with water, the bathroom can be both a pleasant and dangerous place alike.
Several promising Nigerians have lost their lives to avoidable deaths in the bathtub. Just recently, Tony Iwelu, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, died at a hotel in Kaduna.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, Iwelu was suspected to have been electrocuted while taking a shower in his room at a popular hotel allegedly in the metropolis allegedly owned by a friend of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
A source at the hotel at the time of the tragic incident according to the Online newspaper said Iwelu, a top Department of State Services (DSS) personnel attached to Amaechi since he was Governor of Rivers State, was found dead inside the bathtub in his hotel room and may have died of electrocution.
The source was quoted to have disclosed that, “He died inside his room”. The hotel is brand new “We found him dead inside the bathtub and we think he was electrocuted.”
However Iwelu’s tragic end made it to the media because of prominence, especially of his principal. Thousands of other cases occur daily in Nigeria without media mentions.
Findings by Newsclickng.com from professionals across the build industry revealed that deaths in the bathtub are not limited to those with electrical fittings.
“Bathtub deaths can be painful in the sense that victims might not get help before they pass on. In some cases, the victim’s corpse gets discovered only when suspected foul smell takes over the neighborhood. And it’s not directly common to modern bathtubs with electrical fittings,” a prominent Lagos-based structural Civil Engineer who does not want to be named told Newsclickng.com.
Further investigations by Newsclickng.com revealed that electrocutions could be suffered by everyone regardless of their electrical expertise and their proximity to high voltage electrical outlets. Faulty wiring, an exposed overhead light, or even a misplaced appliance in the bathroom, could all translate to injury and death from electrocution.
Even if the electrical installations in your bathroom are in total compliance with national and international standards, it is still up to individuals – the occupant of the house – to ensure his/her personal safety and that of loved ones from accidents. In its untiring journalistic role of ensuring safety at home, work and other places, Newsclickng.com have carefully selected highlighted tips as shared by a cross section of experts that will help guide readers towards making respective bathrooms much safer and possibly save loved ones from the lurking danger of electrocution.
Top 13 Bathroom Electrical Safety Tips:
1. Avoid bringing plugged-in electrical appliances into the bathroom
Even as battery-operated and/or rechargeable appliances are becoming increasingly available, many people still find themselves relying on electric appliances on a daily basis. The problem starts when these appliances are left in the bathroom while still plugged in. The most effective way to prevent electrocution from electric appliances, is to keep them well away from the bathroom. If that is not an option, however, you can;
· Replace them with battery-operated or rechargeable appliances
· Use only GFCI-protected outlets
· Unplug all electrical appliances before leaving the bathroom
2. Ensure a reasonable outlet distance of not less than 3 meters
As much as installing sockets and power outlets in the bathroom increases the risk of an electrical mishap occurring, we need them to power various appliances. Ensure that they are all installed a safe distance from the shower, the bath, or the taps (at least 3 meters away) to keep them far enough from splashes of water. They should also be no less than 300mm above the floor.
3. Extension cords, bulbs, and wiring
It should go without saying that you should NEVER bring an extension cord into the bathroom. Also, any exposed or frayed wires should be concealed or repaired by a qualified electrician as soon as possible. As for bathroom lighting, naked light bulbs and uncovered light fixtures could mean electrical danger for anyone using the bathroom, especially if they hang low from the ceiling.
Always choose recessed lighting fixtures that are less likely to be accidentally touched by wet hands or splashes of water. Enclosed lighting fixtures will also provide similar levels of safety from electrical mishaps.
4. Light Switches
For bathrooms, ceiling-mounted pull-cord switches are a lot safer than the conventional wall-mounted light switches. This is because you can easily get electrocuted if you turn on a wall-mounted switch with damp or wet hands, or if you’re standing in water.
5. Handle electrical appliances with dry hands
Perhaps the oldest rule in the book when it comes to handling electrical appliances is that you should ensure your hands are completely dry. Make this a habit in the bathroom when using appliances such as hairdryers, curling irons, and electric razors. Ideally, you should ensure that your whole body is reasonably dry since even a stray drop of water can cause an appliance to shock you.
6. Shower-head heaters
If you are using a shower-head heater, whether electric or gas-powered, make sure that it is permanently wired and installed by a licensed electrician. It should have no exposed wiring and should be wired straight to the circuit. Also in this case, you should choose a pull-cord switch over the standard wall switch for your heater.
7. Install GFCI-protected sockets
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are devices that are built into an electric circuit with the sole purpose of shutting off the electrical supply once they detect that the current is flowing outside its intended path. If a stray electric current comes into contact with water or human skin, the GFCI device automatically cuts off the power supply to the outlet.
If you have not already installed GFCI-protected sockets in your kitchen and bathroom, make it a point of doing so since they offer more protection in areas prone to water spillages and splashes.
8. Keep electrical appliances out of children’s reach
If you absolutely have to keep your electrical appliances in the bathroom, always ensure that they are unplugged and properly stored well away from the reach of children. This includes seemingly non-threatening appliances such as electric shavers, portable hair dryers, and even radios.
9. Opt for central heaters and ceiling fan heaters
If you need a heater in the bathroom, you should consider installing a central heater or a ceiling fan heater instead of using a much riskier portable heater. These should be permanently installed by a qualified electrician and should have no exposed wiring whatsoever.
10. Make All Surfaces Skid-Proof
Unfortunately, wet surfaces are a major safety hazard, and it probably seems like the surfaces of your bathroom are always wet. Rather than getting the individual decals that you stick on the floor of the bathtub, get a rubber mat for the bottom of the bathtub. While you are at it, consider getting rubber mats for next to the sink and next to the tub as well so that people with wet feet are not slipping and sliding on the floor.
11. Install Grab Bars throughout the Space
For maximum safety, consider adding grab bars in your bathroom. These should be placed at a minimum next to your toilet, in the shower, and in the bathtub. When grab bars are installed properly, they can help people balance as well as give you something to grab onto, if you start slipping. They come in a variety of designs and styles, so you do not have to sacrifice aesthetics for functionality.
12. Ensure There Is Enough Lighting
Often, accidents happen in the bathroom owing largely to people inability to see obstacles in the way or cannot spot a wet floor in the dark. If you or anyone in your family frequently gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, make sure the light switch is close enough to the door that they can turn it on. Otherwise, consider a night light that you can plug into the wall in the bathroom.
13. Test your GFCI sockets at least once every month
Installing GFCI-protected sockets should not be the end of the job for you. Ensure that you have them tested (or test them yourself if you know how to) at least on a monthly basis at the minimum to ensure that they are working properly. You can also take this opportunity to make sure that there are no frayed or exposed wires in the bathroom that might cause electrical mishaps.
Ensure you make these checks as regular as possible, to prevent being caught off-guard by faulty electrical wiring and installations that could prove fatal for you or loved ones.
