Chemicals are interesting. Mixing some together create some incredible things. For example, Sodium and Chlorine make up salt. But there are some mixtures that can take things in a far opposite direction. The results of which can be deadly.
Do you ever have those days you regret the job you have? Today was certainly one of them. I'm a maintenance man for an apartment complex. I usually find it fun, being called over an issue and resolving it the most effective way I can. I love problem solving and the feeling you get from helping people is immeasurable.
Today was one of the rare days where I wasn't simply resolving an issue, but cleaning. Cleaning a bathroom to be more specific. Recently, the plumbing got backed up and caused some colored liquid to come up the drains all around her apartment. Thankfully, the plumbers came in and fixed it, but not without creating a small mess of their own. The tenant, Brianna, told us about it and my boss wanted me to clean it all up. I didn't have anything else scheduled for the day, I might as well spend it scrubbing a toilet.
When I arrived at the apartment, Brianna was just on her way out. She said she was heading to work. She thanked me as she walked out the door. I stepped into the apartment with my bucket of cleaning supplies and went to work. It was a struggle getting the stains out of the tub, but in using chemicals, it came up rather quickly. When it was done, I moved over to the sink. I was frustrated to find that the plug was one that didn't come out of the drain. I had no idea how to remove it, so I had to look it up on my phone. I honestly have no idea what I'd do without it.
After looking it up, I finally got the plug out. I pulled the hair and gunk out and used some chemicals to scrub the sink. Thinks were starting to look good in here, although the chemical smell was beginning to burn my nostrils. I had to get out of there. Before I left, I poured some bleach in the toilet, letting it set while I went outside to smoke a cigarette. It sounded a little ridiculous, leaving a bathroom because of the chemicals, only to leave and breathe in more chemicals. The thought made me chuckle.
It was good to step outside, admiring the view of houses of varying sizes and colors lining the streets. It was a nice reminder of how big the world truly was. I somehow gave me a sense of peace.
Just as I was about to finish my cigarette, I heard the front door to the apartment open. Was she back from work already? Perhaps she was taking a break like I was. I heard her feet clattering against the ground as she made her way to another room in the house. Was she okay?
As I went to check on her, I heard a door shut and the faint sound of a toilet lid flipping open. My eyes went wide. I hurried to the bathroom and began pounding on the door.
"Brianna, you have to get out of there!" I called to her. I could hear trickling on the other side of the door.
"Give me a second," she shot back. "I'm kinda busy right now." I could hear her coughing after she finished talking.
"There's bleach in the toilet," I explained. "When bleach mixes with urine it becomes incredibly toxic, you have to get out of there."
I could hear her coughing, now more frequent and more violently. "Okay," she choked out. I heard her messing with the knob. Did she really have to lock the door? She kept fumbling with it and it became more violent as she kept coughing, choking on the toxic fumes. Suddenly, it stopped. I heard a heavy thud as her body hit the ground. I started messing with the door but it wouldn't budge. I tried bashing my shoulder against it but it was no use. I had only one other solution.
Taking my phone out, I dialed 9-1-1. I explained everything and, within a matter of minutes, they were over here, bashing the door down and bringing her outside. They tried bringing her back but it was too late, she was gone.
Do you ever have those days you regret the job you have? Today was certainly one of them. I'm a maintenance man for an apartment complex. I usually find it fun, being called over an issue and resolving it the most effective way I can. I love problem solving and the feeling you get from helping people is immeasurable.
Today was one of the rare days where I wasn't simply resolving an issue, but cleaning. Cleaning a bathroom to be more specific. Recently, the plumbing got backed up and caused some colored liquid to come up the drains all around her apartment. Thankfully, the plumbers came in and fixed it, but not without creating a small mess of their own. The tenant, Brianna, told us about it and my boss wanted me to clean it all up. I didn't have anything else scheduled for the day, I might as well spend it scrubbing a toilet.
When I arrived at the apartment, Brianna was just on her way out. She said she was heading to work. She thanked me as she walked out the door. I stepped into the apartment with my bucket of cleaning supplies and went to work. It was a struggle getting the stains out of the tub, but in using chemicals, it came up rather quickly. When it was done, I moved over to the sink. I was frustrated to find that the plug was one that didn't come out of the drain. I had no idea how to remove it, so I had to look it up on my phone. I honestly have no idea what I'd do without it.
After looking it up, I finally got the plug out. I pulled the hair and gunk out and used some chemicals to scrub the sink. Thinks were starting to look good in here, although the chemical smell was beginning to burn my nostrils. I had to get out of there. Before I left, I poured some bleach in the toilet, letting it set while I went outside to smoke a cigarette. It sounded a little ridiculous, leaving a bathroom because of the chemicals, only to leave and breathe in more chemicals. The thought made me chuckle.
It was good to step outside, admiring the view of houses of varying sizes and colors lining the streets. It was a nice reminder of how big the world truly was. I somehow gave me a sense of peace.
Just as I was about to finish my cigarette, I heard the front door to the apartment open. Was she back from work already? Perhaps she was taking a break like I was. I heard her feet clattering against the ground as she made her way to another room in the house. Was she okay?
As I went to check on her, I heard a door shut and the faint sound of a toilet lid flipping open. My eyes went wide. I hurried to the bathroom and began pounding on the door.
"Brianna, you have to get out of there!" I called to her. I could hear trickling on the other side of the door.
"Give me a second," she shot back. "I'm kinda busy right now." I could hear her coughing after she finished talking.
"There's bleach in the toilet," I explained. "When bleach mixes with urine it becomes incredibly toxic, you have to get out of there."
I could hear her coughing, now more frequent and more violently. "Okay," she choked out. I heard her messing with the knob. Did she really have to lock the door? She kept fumbling with it and it became more violent as she kept coughing, choking on the toxic fumes. Suddenly, it stopped. I heard a heavy thud as her body hit the ground. I started messing with the door but it wouldn't budge. I tried bashing my shoulder against it but it was no use. I had only one other solution.
Taking my phone out, I dialed 9-1-1. I explained everything and, within a matter of minutes, they were over here, bashing the door down and bringing her outside. They tried bringing her back but it was too late, she was gone.
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