How To Prevent Hot Water Scalding
There’s nothing quite like the restorative powers of a hot shower or bath and it can be incredibly invigorating indeed. However, for younger and older people, there is an increased risk of hot water scalding if proper care isn’t taken, with tap water scalds one of the most common causes of burn injuries across all age groups.
Older people are particularly at risk of suffering bad scald injuries because their skin is thinner and, as a result, is less tolerant to higher temperatures, but there are ways in which these risks can be mitigated in the home.
One of the best ways to go about this is to use thermostatic mixing valves so that water temperature can be properly controlled and regulated to reduce the risk of scalding.
Research from trade association BEAMA shows that every year approximately 20 people die because of scalds from hot bath water, while an additional 570 suffer serious injuries. Almost three-quarters of the fatalities are seen in those over the age of 65.
Thermostatically controlled valves can regulate the temperature of the water accurately, maintaining preset temperatures to account for varying water pressure and reducing scalding risks significantly.
These devices allow you to pre-select the temperature you want so that the hot and cold water is mixed automatically by a thermally sensitive mechanism that can compensate for any variations in supply pressure or temperature.
If the cold water supply fails for any reason, this mixing mechanism will shut the flow down automatically to make sure that there’s no discharge of dangerously hot water.
Common applications for these valves include baths, showers and hand basins. Showers, in particular, could benefit from installation because the water flow is constant during use and any sudden temperature changes (hot or cold) can lead to injury as a result of shock, slips and falls.
Are you looking into disability baths at the moment? Get in touch with Practical Bathing today to see how we can help make your home safer.
