How to get out of the bath safely

Taking a bath is a great way of relaxing the body and mind. However, combining slippery surfaces, potentially hazardous objects and water can heighten the risk of an accident occurring while getting in and out of the bath.

Not only this, if an individual is suffering from mobility issues such as arthritis or bad knees, getting out of the bath safely can be even more exhausting and higher risk.

Fall prevention is an essential part of bathroom safety as we age. But fear of slipping and hurting yourself as you get out of the bath should not prevent you from enjoying a calming soak.

To prevent an accident from occurring, it’s worth reminding yourself of the proper technique to get out of the bath safely.

So, how do you get out of the bath without potentially hurting your knees, or flaring up your arthritis?

In this article, we run through this technique as well as tips to increase bathroom safety and some of the features you could introduce to your bathroom to make it a safer, more enjoyable space.

1. Getting out of the bath safely

2. Tips for increasing bathroom safety

3. Benefits of a walk-in bath

Getting out of the bath safely

First and foremost, become aware of your surroundings by taking a quick scan of the area around you before exiting the bath. Avoid slippery areas on the floor and any other hazards such as exposed wires to increase bathroom safety.

To ensure further bathroom safety, follow these steps to get out of the bath in a safe manner:

1. Get yourself into a comfortable, upright sitting position.
2. Grab one of the edges of your bath – take care to avoid slippery areas – and turn yourself onto your side using the bath as leverage.
3. Using your hands and knees, turn yourself around so that you’re now on your hands and knees facing the bottom of the bath.
4. Hold both sides of the bath and push yourself back onto your knees.
5. Holding the side of the bath that you want to exit from, lift your knees off the bath floor. You should now be on your feet.
6. Keep holding onto the side of your bath for support and bring one leg over the side before placing it on the floor.
7. Once that leg is stable on the ground, keep hold of the side of the bath and bring the other leg over.
8. You should now be standing on both feet outside of the bath. Once you feel stable, let go of the bath.

For extra support, we recommend installing a rail or grab bar. This will give you an additional place to hold onto and secure yourself while carefully manoeuvring out of the bath.

Tips for increasing bathroom safety

It’s worthwhile decreasing any risks in your bathroom to make getting a bath that little bit safer. Try these tips to help:

Put all the items you will need at arm’s length

Whether it’s your shampoo, body wash, sponge or towel, be sure to place all bathing items within a reasonable distance. This will prevent you from moving around too much in the bath and risking injury.

Use flooring that isn’t slippery when it’s wet

An alternative could be to use non-slip mats on your bathroom floor and in your bath too. This will make it easier to maintain your balance when standing up in the bath and once you’ve exited the bath. Some people use towels on the floor instead of rugs, but these can be dangerous when wet, and we would advise against this.

Install a walk-in bath or walk-in shower

For improved accessibility, walk-in baths or walk-in showers are a great addition to your home and can instantly modernise your bathroom. Or, if you’re short on space in your bathroom, you could consider a wet room option that will best optimise limited space without compromising on style.

Wet rooms are great options for those with limited space, and are the most mobility-friendly bathing option since you do not have to step over any boundary to go into them.

Keep your bathroom hazard-free

Ideally, aim to keep your bathroom hazard-free, particularly the area around your bath. This will increase bathroom safety while reducing the chances of you having an accident while exiting the bath.

Ensure you have good lighting

It’s important to have good lighting in your bathroom so you can clearly see where you are stepping and if there are any tripping hazards you need to be aware of. Smart lighting allows you to adjust the light in your bathroom to suit your needs. Whether that’s warm lighting for a relaxing bath or bright light when you’re moving around the bathroom, this flexibility is an excellent feature for bathroom spaces.

Work on your balance if you can

Getting out of the bath safely relies heavily on good balance. If it’s available to you, consider doing some regular balance exercises to strengthen the muscles. These types of exercises play a key role in fall prevention and can reduce the chances of an injury occurring.

Add grab rails to your bath

Grab rails can aid you further when getting in and out of the bath, providing further support and stability to your movement. These can be attached inside or outside your bath, depending on what works best for you.

Bath seats

Bath seats provide elevation when sitting in a bath, as bath seats are placed above the bathtub floor. This puts you in an upright seating position when sitting in the bath, making it more comfortable and easier for you to enter and exit the bath.

There are a variety of bath seats for different types of bath sizes, however, compact baths will normally have a built-in bath seat. Most full-length baths do have bath seats but are not built-in and can be interchanged with a bath seat of your choice.

Benefits of a walk-in bath

Traditional bathtubs can present a range of problems for those who struggle to get in and out of the bath. Walk-in baths negate many of these issues by providing an accessible and modern bathroom addition.

Designed with a range of safety features such as slip-resistant surfaces, reduced step height for easy access, bath seats and grab rails, walk-in baths can present a range of benefits including:

• Reduces the risk of a fall or accident occurring
• Improves mobility by allowing you to simply walk into your bath space without having to move over the side of the bath
• Increases independence while reducing reliance on someone else
• Can include luxurious options such as spa massage to help with circulation

On top of all this, walk-in baths also provide a stylish bathroom feature and can integrate seamlessly with your space. If you want more information on this type of product, take a look at our walk-in baths and walk-in showers or contact us direct to learn more.