Hidden Hazards Lurking in Hotels:- When you go on vacation, you expect to have a fun time before returning home safe and sound. That’s the reality for thousands of vacationers each year, but certainly not all of them.
Many people find themselves seriously hurt or unwell after experiencing an accident or incident at their accommodation.
While you won’t be able to prevent all accidents and illnesses, being aware of some of the hidden hazards lurking in hotels might make you tread a bit more carefully!
Slippery Floors
Ask any personal injury lawyer in Toledo or further afield, and they’ll likely tell you they’ve worked with many travelers who have experienced slips and falls at hotel facilities. Lobbies and walkways at hotels can often be slippery, especially when they feature tiles or hard flooring. The slip risk can sometimes be even higher around areas with water, like swimming pools.
Hotel workers might be able to prevent slips and falls by using special non-slip floor coatings, cleaning up spills quickly, and using wet floor signs. Guests can also do their part by wearing appropriate footwear around their hotels and being aware of their surroundings.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools can be a novelty at a hotel if you don’t have one at home or in your local community.
You can spend your free time relaxing poolside or going for a dip to cool off. There’s no denying that swimming pools can be fun, but they can also be dangerous.
Swimming pool tiles can be a slip hazard, while broken tiles might put you at risk of tripping. There can even be a drowning risk, with 54% of public pool drownings occurring in hotel/motel pools. Always be aware of your surroundings, know your limits, and ensure all children are supervised.
Common Area Illnesses
No one wants to spend their vacation time unwell, but it can happen. The average hotel lobby can be home to various infectious diseases, pathogens, and allergens.
Flu viruses can surface on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours, making high-touch surfaces like door handles, countertops, and touch screens in lobbies a potential illness source unless employees disinfect them daily.
Hotel HVAC systems can also be cause for concern. Without filtering, monitoring, and treatment, they can spread airborne pathogens and allergens like legionella and allergens. Hotel workers can do their part by maintaining and cleaning their hotel daily, while guests can prioritize handwashing.
Hotel Room Germs and Bugs
You expect a clean and hygienic room during your stay at a hotel, but that isn’t always guaranteed. Many items in the average hotel can be a haven for germs. UpgradedPoints undertook a study involving a range of surfaces in hotel rooms.
This study showed that the average hotel stairwell door handle had 918 times more germs than a toilet seat and 1,839 times more germs than the bathroom doorknob in the average house.
Hotel surfaces were also swabbed to reveal organisms that can cause upper respiratory infections and rod-shaped bacteria called bacillus, known to cause food to spoil.
Conclusion (Hidden Hazards Lurking in Hotels)
Hotels aren’t always the relaxing havens they’re supposed to be. Hazards can be lurking where you least expect them. The next time you book a vacation, be aware of these common hazards to potentially be in a better position to avoid them and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.