Using disabled loo during period leakage

[moutonfou]

Using the disabled loo if there's a long queue and you're leaking blood - reasonable or unreasonable?

Not done it but was in the situation and luckily there was no queue - wondered what I would have done if there'd been one.

Reasonable if it's an emergency.

I wouldn't but wouldn't judge someone else if they did.

Sounds reasonable to me but I'm not always the best judge of this topic...

Yes I would, if your leaking blood everywhere it is a bio hazard, and you needed it sorted asap, as well as being humiliating to you. Yes, if there are no other loos available.

Strictly speaking you shouldn't as somebody with an actual disability might come along, need the toilet desperately and be unable to use it as you were in there.

But period leakage is horrible and I certainly wouldn't judge you for nipping in quickly to sort it out.

As a Radar key holder YANBU. Of course you can. I class that as a toilet emergency.

As an official radar key holder I can use the disabled loo . I would be happy to let you borrow my key . No doubt someone will come along and try to tell me off.

Xpost toysauras

I would because there's plenty of room to clean up in and a sink next to you for easy washing. If a disabled person came along then yes they would have to wait, but they might have to anyway if another disabled person was using it at the time

I'm now disabled:( got a Radar key an' everything). I've no probs whatsoever with anyone using the disabled toilet if they need to and the queues at the regular ones are long. - why should I ?

If it's already leaking, you've gotta do what you've gotta do.

OP is classed as a toilet emergency, as well as a bio hazard if the blood is leaking on the floor, or down her legs. I don't even know why she has put this thread up, as its common sense really, nobody would judge. Only on Mumsnet would somebody have an issue with this. It common compassion and empathy.

I absolutely would!

Those who say you are being unreasonable will be the ones who have 3 day periods where they need one tampon a day.

Strictly speaking you shouldn't as somebody with an actual disability might come along, need the toilet desperately and be unable to use it as you were in there.

I never understand this keeping-someone-in-greater-need-waiting argument. What if the person already using the toilet is also disabled, what then?

I guess I posted because everyone worries about that situation where you come out of the disabled loo and somebody clearly disabled is there and you feel bad.

But then many people use the disabled loo in relation to hidden disabilities so I guess there would always be a degree of open-mindedness/just need to trust the person had a genuine reason for being in there.

I'd probably use the disabled loo or just ask to go to the front of the queue... but Those who say you are being unreasonable will be the ones who have 3 day periods where they need one tampon a day. Yup, that is me!!!

Better going to get yourself cleaned up then have blood dribbling everywhere.

But vlad- if your waiting for someone who is disabled that's par for the course and unavoidable. However if any Tom, Dick or Harry starts using it because it is there that means there is a much greater chance that someone who can't access any other toilet (and could very easily have continence problems let's remember) is unable to access what is often the only suitable toilet.

Surely you can see how that is a problem?

My local Waitrose has two toilets: one is marked with Male, Female and Baby Changing symbols, and the other with Male, Female and Disabled symbols. What's the official etiquette about able-bodied people using them? I often feel as if whichever one I choose is potentially inconveniencing someone...

I agree it's ok OP. But I'm interested in how many people are saying it's ok because it's a toilet emergency. What if you had a toddler/pre schooler who was about to soil themselves and there was no other toilet available as in the OP's scenario. Presumably that is equally humiliating and a biohazard (reasons given up thread). Is it ok to use the disabled toilet in that scenario?

I'm not trying to be goady, just wondering on people's thoughts.

Shantasia - sounds like both are "multi purpose" toilets so you can use either. I would always try to use the baby change one over the disabled if free just to try to leave the disabled free.

Sirzy I am glad the majority of us on here have commonsense and empathy, op is not able to wait, and needs to use the toilet asap. This is a toilet emergency that needs to be dealt with asap, not just someone who can hold on. Its an accessible toilet, so those who needs it in an emergency and cannot wait, like op can use it.

? @areo - I presume you missed my post (about third in the thread) which said I wouldn't judge someone for doing so?

My later post was in reply to someone not understanding why anyone can't just jump in because it's empty

I think that is fine -I once had to run into the disabled loo past a line of people as I had come over very sick and was about to lose my lunch -I couldn't speak to ask people to let me through (I dare not open my mouth!) as it was an emergency and this loo was empty and nearest so I just ran for it.

If you have periods that are flooding through heavy flow sanitary products I'd say that's a medical issue that would qualify to use the disabled loo tbh.