Escape from the Collapse of Public Mobile Toilets

When a public mobile toilet collapses, it is important to remain calm and take appropriate escape and self-rescue measures based on different situations, as follows:

If you are pinned down by bricks or stones, carefully move your body while ensuring safety to prevent larger debris from falling. Take inspiration from the case in Huangshi, Hubei, where a 14-year-old boy was trapped under bricks when a public toilet collapsed. Firefighters manually removed the debris to rescue him. At this time, the trapped person should try to remain calm and avoid dangerous actions such as violent struggling, which could cause more debris to fall and worsen injuries.

If the mobile toilet falls entirely into a pit due to situations like road collapse, draw on common self-rescue knowledge for building collapses. Cover your mouth and nose with a towel, clothing, or your hand to prevent dust pollution. In a collapsed environment, a large amount of dust will be raised, which can damage the respiratory tract and affect breathing function. Covering your mouth and nose can effectively reduce dust inhalation. If there are water pipes or gas pipelines nearby, knock on them to alert rescuers. These pipelines are usually sturdy and connected to the outside, and the sound produced by knocking can spread, increasing the chances of being discovered by rescuers. Use bricks, wood, etc., to support objects that may collapse to expand the 'safe space' and maintain sufficient air for breathing. In a confined space, supporting can prevent further collapse of objects above, creating a relatively safe area for yourself and ensuring there is enough air to breathe. When unable to escape and rescue yourself, avoid shouting loudly to conserve energy and call for help only when you hear someone approaching. Shouting loudly consumes a lot of energy, and conserving energy is crucial while waiting for rescue.

If you feel the ground under your feet softening or wobbling while using a public toilet, don't hesitate; get out immediately. In a case in Guizhou, a man's foundation collapsed while he was using a public toilet, and he fell halfway into a cesspit. Fortunately, passersby pulled him out in time. This shows that timely evacuation is key to avoiding danger when abnormal situations are detected, and hesitation can lead to more dangerous situations.