LET’S
Talk
ABOUT
TOILETS The latest instalment from disabled access review site Euan’s Guide, highlights the importance of Red Cord Cards and Changing Places facilities
A
t Euan’s Guide we talk about toilets quite regularly. Firstly, whether or not somewhere had an accessible or Changing Places toilet. Then, if it did have one, what it was like and what we would change about it.
These emergency cords are designed so that they could be used by someone sitting on the toilet or lying on the floor who needs to raise the alarm to call for assistance
Toilets are an important part of the disabled access reviews left on EuansGuide.com, and we always love it when reviewers or venues share photos of the loos with us. That’s because everyone’s access requirements are different, so while you might be looking for right hand transfer, someone else might be looking for a shelf, turning space or high contrast to help identify the fittings. It is true what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a picture of an accessible loo can quickly give people the information they need to be able to decide whether or not they’d be able to use the toilet. So often venues are let down by their accessible toilet (or a lack of one). Have you ever come across an accessible toilet with a broken grab rail or toilet seat? How about one that doesn’t look like it has been cleaned lately? Gross! Or what about one that is also being used as a storage cupboard? Sigh. How handy would it be to know about these issues before you visited and how easy would it be for venues to fix these problems? One common problem we kept hearing about in people’s reviews was red emergency cords that wouldn’t be of any use in an emergency because they were cut too short or tied up out of reach. These emergency cords are designed so that they could be used by someone sitting on the toilet or lying on the floor who needs to raise the alarm to call for assistance. The problem is that far too many people don’t know what the cord is there for, which is why we designed Red Cord Cards. Our Red Cord Cards are splash-proof cards designed to be attached to all red emergency cords to remind everyone that the cord should be left hanging freely so that it could be used in an emergency. The sign is an important tool to alert all toilet users, cleaners and staff to leave correctly positioned cords as they are and can help signal to venues when the cord needs to be fixed. Individuals can request free Red Cord Cards from us by visiting EuansGuide.com/redcord. Their size makes them
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