Red Cord Cards make 200,000 Accessible Toilets Safer

Leading disabled access charity Euan’s Guide is celebrating a major milestone in its national Safer Toilets campaign.

The award-winning charity that runs the UK’s leading disabled access review website, set up by Euan MacDonald MBE and Kiki MacDonald OBE, has announced that it has distributed 200,000 Red Cord Cards.

The achievement marks a significant step forward in ensuring that accessible toilets across the UK are safe and functional for disabled people thanks to the red emergency cords in accessible toilets.

The Red Cord Card is a simple card designed to be attached to the red emergency cords in accessible toilets. These cords are frequently found tied up, cut short, or out of reach, leaving disabled people unable to call for help in an emergency.

The cards carry a clear message: ‘This red emergency cord must hang freely to the floor. If it does not, it may prevent a disabled person from asking for help’.

Data from the latest Euan’s Guide Access Survey highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the disabled community regarding toilet facilities:

● Widespread need: 84% of respondents are accessible toilet users or know someone who is.

● Infrastructure failures: 76% of users have encountered a facility they were unable to use.

● Barriers to inclusion: 69% of disabled people have avoided a location entirely due to a lack of accessible toilets, while 59% have had to cut a trip short because facilities did not meet their needs.

● Maintenance issues: 70% of respondents cited cleanliness, maintenance, and availability as the most common hurdles.

What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a nationwide movement with Red Cord Cards being a common sight in UK museums, railway stations, cafes, and office buildings, and influencers posting their Red Cord Cards on Instagram and TikTok to highlight the importance of the emergency cord.

“Each of these 200,000 cards represents a commitment to safety,” said Kiki MacDonald, Co-Founder of Euan’s Guide.

“The red emergency cord is not a nuisance to be tucked away or looped over a grab rail; it is a vital lifeline. Our community has been instrumental in placing these cards and ensuring that a call for help is never out of reach, and we are so proud to have made 200,000 accessible toilets safer for disabled people through our Safer Toilets campaign.”

While celebrating this 200,000-card achievement, Euan’s Guide maintains that the work is far from over. The charity is calling on businesses and individuals to continue supporting the campaign to help keep accessible toilets as safe as possible so disabled people feel valued and welcome.

Members of the public and business owners can support the movement by ordering Red Cord Cards directly from the Euan’s Guide website to help raise awareness in their local communities at www.EuansGuide.com/SaferToilets.

In addition, businesses and venues can help disabled people know what to expect and plan their visits by sharing disabled access information on their website and on EuansGuide.com.