A young woman has shared a grave warning about using public toilets after she made a disturbing find at a park.
Chloe Andrews used the public toilet at a riverside park in Sydney – and spied some tiny suspicious marks on the toilet paper roll.
The marks, including specks of blood, are believed to have been made by drug users who often push used syringes into the side of the toilet paper rolls to clean the needles.
‘I came across the needle marks by chance while using the public toilets on the riverwalk, and it was a reminder of how important it is to be cautious in public spaces,’ Chloe told Daily Mail.
She only saw the marks by chance, as the dispenser case fell off the moment she sat down on the seat – indicating someone had previously pulled it off to get access to the side of the roll.
‘I looked to my left, and there were needle marks in the toilet paper roll,’ she said.
‘It looked like the lockable case was faulty – it had sticky tape around it.’
Chloe was concerned that people could unwittingly put tainted blood in contact with their intimate areas, so she reported it to her local council.
Chloe Andrews was walking along a river at a park in Sydney when she dashed into a public bathroom – only to find tiny suspicious marks on the toilet paper roll
‘I’m sure they’ll take the right precautions to keep these toilets safe for the community,’ she said.
The young woman decided to make a video to warn everyone – particularly parents – to think twice about using public toilets.
‘Especially mums, do not let your kids use the public toilets,’ she said.
Her video posted to her @chloeandrews has been viewed more than 175,000 times – with many saying they had no idea about the marks found on toilet rolls in public bathrooms.
‘No way, I did not think of this,’ one said.
‘That’s so scary, this could be at any public toilet,’ another pointed out.
‘Every time I use a public toilet, I always look at the paper for this specific reason but now I’m paranoid,’ one shared.
‘That’s so messed up,’ another added.
‘I never thought of this. Never using toilet paper in public loos again,’ one revealed.
‘Omg I never knew this,’ another shared.
Chloe observed suspicious marks on the toilet roll in the public toilet
As a warning message to others, Chloe decided to post a video of her toilet roll finding
According to South Australia Health, germs can spread indirectly from an infected person to the environment – including public toilets – and then to another person who comes into contact with the contaminated surface or object.
You are unlikely to get infected from dried blood on a public surface because most viruses and bacteria quickly die or become inactive once they are exposed to air.
However, many said they have always avoided using public toilets or checked the paper toilet rolls just as a precaution.
‘This is one of my biggest fears! I always check the rolls. It’s freaking disgusting and terrifying. So glad that the cover fell off and you didn’t end up using it,’ one shared.
‘I NEVER use public toilets full stop. I’d literally rather wee myself than risk getting stuck by a dirty needle,’ another revealed.
Meanwhile, many shared how they use public bathrooms safely.
‘As a mum, we (have) got used to bringing toilet covers, disinfectant wipes and flushable wipes,’ one shared.
