Mom, Jessica Wayman, took to her Facebook page to warn parents about another nightmare scenario involving public changing tables. Wayman, who is a recovering addict, recently posted a picture of a dirty changing table and said that the marks left there were evidence of drug use on the changing table. She strongly cautioned all parents to carefully clean public changing tables before they change their child’s diaper on one. She says:
“PSA: Before putting your babies anywhere near these things, ALWAYS wipe them down first. Even if you are in a hurry, even if you have a blanket to lay down. See the black marks? Those are from burnt spoons. Addicts use these as tables while they shoot up. There could be residue from heroin/meth whatever, and other harmful bodily fluids. If someone doesn’t care about themselves, I can promise you, they aren’t thinking about your kids. Be cautious
SHARE so this can reach as many parents/guardians/babysitters as possible. It could mean the difference between life or death/serious life threatening injury, for a lot of innocent children & unsuspecting parents.
EDIT: I never expected this to get so much attention, but since it is, to clarify some of the things I’m seeing being questioned, this is in reference to changing stations in single person bathrooms & in handicapped stalls, yes this is VERY REAL. I am a recovering addict myself, which is why I made this post in the first place, to warn all the unsuspecting parents who would never think something like this when looking at a changing table. Along with people using them as tables while they shoot up, they are also OFTEN used by addicts to bust drugs out and crush them up upon. So again, be cautious.”
Wayman’s post resonated with parents, many of whom responded that they had no idea about the dangers. Since poisoning by the powerful opioid fentanyl is a very real possibility, it’s important that parents heed Wayman’s warning. Fentanyl is often mixed in with heroin and other opioids, and coming in contact with just a few grains of it can prove fatal for an adult, much less a small child.
Waymans personal knowledge of drug use because of her own recovery lends credibility to her warning. Though I don’t think that parents should live in fear, I do think they should be extra cautious before laying their children down on the changing table that has marks such as these in a public place. Sometimes it’s hard to think in the moment when you have a squirmy, upset child with a diaper that needs changing badly, so hopefully those who hear this warning ahead of time will be able to remember it when they’re in such a situation.
I hope you’ll do as Jessica asked and share this warning with other parents of small children. Thank you, Jessica for caring enough to post and warn other parents of this danger.