Campground officials have a simple message for anyone who drops something into a vault toilet: Leave it there.
That’s not just good advice. It’s a lesson one California camper learned after finding himself in a situation that was, quite literally, over his head.
The incident happened June 15 at Taylor Creek Campground in California’s Sierra Nevada. According to authorities, the man dropped a pair of sunglasses into a campground vault toilet. Instead of writing them off as a loss, he tried to retrieve them.
The attempt didn’t go as planned.
The camper reportedly lost his footing and fell into the vault beneath the toilet. He spent about 15 minutes inside before managing to call for help. Rescue crews responded, removed part of the toilet structure, and pulled him to safety.
Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured. After being rescued and decontaminated, he declined further medical treatment.
Most of us have dropped something valuable at one time or another. Maybe it was a phone, keys, eyeglasses, or a wallet. Usually, it’s just an expensive and frustrating mistake. In this case, it turned into a rescue operation.
Why vault toilets can be dangerous
Many RVers encounter vault toilets at national forest campgrounds, Bureau of Land Management campgrounds, trailheads, and other remote recreation areas.
Unlike flush toilets connected to a sewer system, vault toilets sit above large holding tanks that collect waste. The vaults can be several feet deep, and they aren’t designed for human access. Once someone falls inside, getting back out may be difficult—or impossible—without help.
There are other hazards, too. Confined spaces can contain dangerous gases or reduced oxygen levels. That’s one reason rescue agencies take these incidents seriously, even when they sound unusual.
When a lost item should stay lost
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office didn’t mince words after the rescue.
“If you drop an item into a vault toilet, do not attempt to retrieve it.”
It’s advice worth remembering.
Whether it’s an expensive pair of sunglasses, a smartphone, car keys, or something else you really don’t want to lose, the value of the item usually isn’t worth the risk.
For RVers who spend time in remote campgrounds, vault toilets are a fact of life. Sooner or later, most of us will probably have that sinking feeling when something slips from a pocket or falls from a shirt.
Sometimes the smartest camping decision is knowing when to let something go down the drain—even when it didn’t actually go down a drain.
It may hurt to watch an expensive pair of sunglasses disappear forever. But that’s a lot better than becoming the next camper who needs to be pulled out of a vault toilet.
“If you drop an item into a vault toilet, do not attempt to retrieve it.”
Have your say
Have you ever dropped something valuable into a campground restroom? Did you try to get it back, or did you chalk it up to experience?
Sources
People.com
The Guardian
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RVT1267b
Idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t hold back, Jesse.🤣 Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
And they live amongst us…😬
But not always for very long, Bill. 😉
Thank you for the “interesting” story, Russ and Tina. Seems a good rule of thumb is never carry anything of value while using a vault toilet. Similarly, one should never use a vault toilet without a companion willing to wait outside holding all of ones valuable stuff for the duration of the use of the toilet. Lastly, always put down the lid of the vault toilet after using it. Have a great day and safe travels!