| While most able-bodied, healthy people don't think | | | | immediate area, a cordless phone or an |
| twice about taking a bath, for people with | | | | emergency alert device may be required. The |
| disabilities. or for the elderly, bathing can be a | | | | emergency alert devices place an outgoing phone |
| very hazardous activity. The National Safety | | | | call when a button is pressed. Some services allow |
| Council says that one person in the United States | | | | you to have the call go to someone you know, |
| dies everyday from using a bathtub or shower. | | | | while others require a monthly subscription fee |
| In fact, during a period of three years there were | | | | and they go to an emergency assistance center. |
| more bathing related deaths than there were | | | | One problem with using cordless phones or |
| handgun accidents. The psychological trauma for | | | | medical alert devices is that most of these |
| families is even greater for bathing accidents since | | | | devices aren't waterproof and they won't survive |
| they occur in purportedly protective surroundings. | | | | a drop in the tub. So if you use these devices, |
| Most disabled and elderly people are not | | | | ensure they are safely away from the tub but |
| completely dependent on someone else for taking | | | | still in reach. |
| a bath. Most of them still want the independence | | | | If someone in the building or surrounding buildings |
| of taking a bath by themselves. They still want as | | | | is available to help, then walkie-talkie-type radios |
| much privacy as they can get so they often bath | | | | or wireless intercoms can be used. Most of these |
| without assistance. | | | | devices are not waterproof either so if they get |
| But, one of the problems with bathing without | | | | wet, that may defeat their purpose. |
| supervision is the fatigue and muscle weakness | | | | One of the ways people who live in retirement |
| cause by heat. Bathing in hot water relaxes the | | | | communities can use products like these is to give |
| muscles. It can also cause many of the same | | | | a portable unit to a trusted neighbor. If they have |
| symptoms as heat exhaustion if the water is too | | | | problems getting out of the tub, the neighbor can |
| hot. Elderly and disabled people who were capable | | | | call for help. |
| of getting in a bathtub may not be able to get | | | | No matter what device is chosen it must be |
| out on their own. | | | | easily reachable and it should be placed where it |
| One elderly woman who had hip problems and | | | | cannot fall in the tub, or it should be waterproof. |
| arthritic knees was able to get in the tub by | | | | It also must be battery powered since with |
| herself, but unable to get out until she finally rolled | | | | anything else there is a risk of electrocution. |
| over the edge thirty minutes later to grab the | | | | Once a device is installed, everyone involved will |
| sink and drag herself out. | | | | feel a greater sense of security by just knowing |
| For this reason elderly and disabled people should | | | | that in the event of a crisis a means of |
| have some sort of an emergency alert device | | | | contacting help is available. Or perhaps all the |
| that can be effortlessly reached. Then if | | | | disabled or elderly person needs is help every |
| assistance is needed getting out of the tub they | | | | time he or she gets out of the tub. In either case, |
| can call someone they trust to help them. | | | | there are devices available that can meet these |
| In cases where a caretaker is not in the | | | | needs. |