In the wake of World Toilet Day we thought we’d take a look at some startling new figures released from our own emergency services; the fire service in particular. It might surprise you to know that firefighters are now attending more than two incidents every single day as a result of people becoming trapped inside a toilet or bathroom. From the year 2011 until the present day here in 2015, fire crews have been called out to people stuck in a toilet cubicle or bathroom a whopping 3,855 times. As stressful a situation this may be, the fire service are now urging people to remember that the number 999 should only be used for genuine emergencies and becoming stuck in a toilet cubicle sadly doesn’t amount to that.
A spokesperson from the London Fire Brigade had this to say, “It’s embarrassing getting locked inside a toilet but the vast majority of the call outs are not emergencies and we’d like to wash our hands of these incidents, freeing up more time for our crews to assist people in real need of assistance. We’re asking people to think before they dial 999 and to spare a thought for those who do not have access to sanitation and toilets.”
Here at euroloo, we fully recognise the need for help when such a situation arises however, to avoid misuse of our emergency services we thought we’d offer you a little advice of our own. This should hopefully help if ever the embarrassing scenario becomes a part of your day.
One of the most common reasons people tend to get stuck in toilet cubicles is simply because an old, un-serviced door drops, rendering the door stuck. The usually small toilet door lock can often be too difficult and fiddly for an adult to grip tight enough. With the vast majority of people, panic will set in almost immediately however, one simple move could end the panic in seconds. Simply place your foot underneath the toilet door and give the door a slight lift. As you do so, try once more to slide the lock open. The majority of the time, this releases the lock and allows you to leave as normal. If this doesn’t seem to help however, then we suggest calling a friend to open the door from the outside (this is particularly easy if you’re using a disable access toilet). They may be able to help lift the door while you move the lock. If it’s the lock that’s become an issue and you feel there really is nothing you can do, then we suggest contacting the manager of the establishment that you’re in. They should be able to contact an engineer to have you out rather quickly.
Under no circumstance however do we suggest climbing the toilet walls. Toilet cubicle walls are indeed more than sufficient when it comes to allowing for privacy however; they aren’t built to withstand weight. Even the slightest of person may find themselves in a rather embarrassing situation…more so than being stuck in a toilet cubicle.
