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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

firebrigade...locked in bathroom

103 replies

ghostspirit · 18/06/2015 18:58

To ask if your child locked them self in bathroom would you call fire service out? i would not as i think its a waste of their services. just kick the door down. Can fire services refuse to attend if they think its wasted service/they are not really needed?

OP posts:
steff13 · 18/06/2015 19:00

I would handle it myself (and have). I assume they can refuse, but I don't know if they would.

landrover · 18/06/2015 19:00

definitely just kick the door in, fire brigade not needed, but good luck anyway xx

formidable · 18/06/2015 19:00

I think they've have to attend, just in case.

No I wouldn't call them out unless I'd tried everything else first.

RedandYellow24 · 18/06/2015 19:03

I think if you had tried and failed or if child was in immediate danger ie toddler and bath was full or able to get at cleaning or medicines then you could ask for help. But it wouldn't be a blue light response unless life in danger. They would probable suggest asking a neighbour to kick door in unless was some bomb prove door!

MrsBennetsEldest · 18/06/2015 19:04

Where's DP when I need to ask him. He should be here any minute. What kind of lock is it? DP is a fireman by the way, not just a font of knowledge, although thinking about it he is a bit like google.Smile

Redglitter · 18/06/2015 19:05

They'll definitely come out blue lights and all for something like that. But I'd definitely try other methods first

hoobypickypicky · 18/06/2015 19:06

You kick the door down. It's a lot quicker to do that (unless your doors are C19th oak church affairs) than it is to call and wait for the fire brigade.

MrsBennetsEldest · 18/06/2015 19:06

Just spoke to DP, he says kick the door in.

hoobypickypicky · 18/06/2015 19:07

Plus of course it would be a waste of firefighters' resources and putting genuinely endangered people at risk.

balletgirlmum · 18/06/2015 19:07

We can open the door from the outside using a penny to turn the lock.

SoupDragon · 18/06/2015 19:08

Kick the door in. And then replace the lock with one that can be opened from the outside. I keep a coin on top of the architrave for this very purpose.

CalleighDoodle · 18/06/2015 19:09

My friend once locked herself in her appartments bathroom. She couldnt get out, had only a towel in their with her, and a random passer by had to phone the fire brigade. They had to climb up ladders to get to her.

SkippyTheBushKangeroo · 18/06/2015 19:09

What type of lock is it? Bathroom door locks are often very weak - depends in the lock obviously.

I can't imagine the firebrigade would do anything diff entry than you could do yourself. Do you have a crowbar?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 18/06/2015 19:10

mrsbennets it was just a normal sliding sort of lock. no one is locked in bath room now. someone i know called them out i was not sure if that was the right thing to do. but they did come out so maybe it was. im just thinking time waited for them could have kicked the door.

be intresting to know though

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 18/06/2015 19:10

I'd at least attempt to kick the door in or ask someone else to.

If I was desperate I might ring the non emergency number and see if the police might help. They batter doors down regularly and have one of those bashy things.

It doesn't strike me as a 'fire service' event really.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2015 19:11

It depends I think. Am I physically able to break the door without hurting myself or my child? Is my child, like DD, incapable of being alone for 10 seconds without hurting herself?

I think I would call my local Fire Prevention Officers and ask if they were busy (I know them) and see if they wanted to come and help.

What we do is hide the key and DD goes with the door open.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2015 19:12

Oh and as DH found out, turn the handle when you're shouldering the door or you do massively more damage.

Piratejones · 18/06/2015 19:12

It would depend on the age of the child and the danger.

madamginger · 18/06/2015 19:13

The lock on our bath room is an original 1930s affair and the latch goes onto the door frame itself. I don't think i could even kick it in if I tried.
DS2 locked himself in once and it took me 10 minutes to persuade him to open the door.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 18/06/2015 19:18

door could have easy been kicked it was just one of them little locks there are 4 little screws in the bit where the lock is and 2 in the bit it catches into. on one of them crappy hollow council type doors

OP posts:
xiaozhu · 18/06/2015 19:20

I got stuck in the bathroom when I was a toddler. My mum kicked the door in and I thought she was a total hero.

TruJay · 18/06/2015 19:52

I remember when we were younger and my brother's friend who I fancied like mad got locked in our bathroom, it was a lock that could be opened with a coin normally if need be but this time it had actually broken. We had to call the council (council house) to come and get him out, lock and handle all needed replacing.

I was gutted when he was out, I wanted to keep him Grin

PotteringAlong · 18/06/2015 19:54

We have solid oak doors. I'd just take the handle off and remove the lock.

Baddz · 18/06/2015 19:59

I don't have locks on bathroom doors in my house.

ToysRLuv · 18/06/2015 20:00

We have a glass window in it, so could smash that and reach in..