Mind control is more important than anything
Prevention is best, having a driver on hand is also a method
A story about a single person living in a one-room apartment who got trapped in the bathroom without their phone and escaped by breaking down the door resonated with netizens.
On the 23rd, an online community called 'FM Korea' posted a photo along with a post titled "I was trapped in the bathroom. Please open the door."
The author, Mr. A, recently had a harrowing experience of getting trapped in the bathroom. Mr. A explained the situation: "The bathroom door was spinning loosely and wouldn’t open. It’s a windowless bathroom with only a ventilation fan, and I had left my phone outside when I went in."
On the 23rd, an online community post titled "I was trapped in the bathroom. Please open the door, let's have a drink" was uploaded along with a photo on the online community 'FM Korea'. [Photo source = online community 'FM Korea']
Mr. A continued, "I struggled holding the doorknob, but when that didn’t work, I started shouting. It was morning, so there was no response. Since it’s a small one-room bathroom and I was getting short of breath, I really felt a sense of crisis." He recalled the tense moment: "As a last hope, I kicked the door to break it down and got out. My feet were covered in wounds, but I’m just glad to be alive."
The photo Mr. A shared showed the bathroom door shattered in a terrible state. He advised, "By the way, I’m 181 cm tall and weigh 97 kg, so it was fortunate. If it had been a child or a woman, it wouldn’t have been easy. If it had been an iron door or a log door, I really wouldn’t have known what to do." He urged, "Everyone, please check your doorknobs carefully and always bring your phone with you."
He added, "If the bathroom is spacious, it might be different, but as you can see, with a big body and a cramped space, the fear was no joke. Even when thinking rationally, I felt like I was going to die right then, so I ended up banging and breaking the door. You can’t stay calm like in the movies. Please, open the door before going in," he pleaded repeatedly. Netizens responded with comments like, "I didn’t expect to get trapped either, so I really hope everyone stays careful," and "For people living alone, this is not someone else’s problem."
Bathroom entrapment accidents are rare but do occur occasionally
If there is a window inside the bathroom, opening the window to request help usually does not pose a major problem. However, if there is no window, the situation can become serious. Above all, mind control is the most important. Being trapped alone in an enclosed space can cause panic due to fear. Since there is water in the bathroom, it is essential to maintain a positive mindset, thinking that "even if rescue does not come immediately, I can drink water and survive for several days." The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]
In fact, accidents of being trapped in bathrooms or rooms happen frequently, as in Mr. A’s story. In April, a man living in a one-room apartment was trapped in his home bathroom and was dramatically rescued by speaking to a smartphone voice recognition AI.
If there is a window in the bathroom, opening it to call for help usually prevents serious problems. However, if there is no window, the situation can become critical. Above all, mind control is most important. Being trapped alone in a confined space can cause panic due to fear. Since there is water in the bathroom, it is necessary to maintain a positive mindset, thinking, "Even if I’m not rescued immediately, I can drink water and survive for several days."
Once calm, you should prepare to escape. If you determine the doorknob is already broken, try shaking it using a tool. If there is still no response, use a light but sturdy object available in the bathroom, such as the showerhead.
By repeatedly hitting the doorknob with the showerhead, even a woman with less strength has about a 10% chance that a strong rebound or snap will cause the latch inside to function properly. If the doorknob detaches, remove it to open the door. There is a rectangular ring connected to the handle part of the door; you can turn this ring using your fingers or nails to open the door.
If the above methods fail, keep banging on the bathroom walls or continuously call for help toward the ventilation fan or drain. Over 90% of bathrooms have ventilation fans installed. Ventilation fans can be easily detached with little force, and the space inside creates an echo, so you should shout toward the fan or drain so neighbors can hear and come to help. There have been cases where people trapped in bathrooms shouted repeatedly at the walls or ventilation fans and were rescued thanks to neighbors’ assistance.
Above all, the best way to prevent bathroom entrapment accidents is prevention. Although inconvenient, bringing your phone into the bathroom or keeping tools like a Phillips screwdriver inside can be helpful in emergencies. If you live alone, not fully closing or locking the bathroom door can also be a method to prevent such accidents.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
