ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bathroom emergency pullstring

Have you ever been in a big building, like a school or a library, and needed to use the bathroom? Sometimes, in those buildings, there is a special string that hangs down in the bathroom. It's called an emergency pullstring.

If you ever need to use the bathroom and for some reason you can't get the door to open, or you get hurt, or you feel very sick, you can pull on that string to make a big noise. It will make a loud sound that lets other people know that you need help.

When you pull the string, it tells the people who work in the building that someone in the bathroom needs help. They will come check on you and see if they can help you.

It's important to remember that the emergency pullstring is only for real emergencies. If you just can't figure out how to open the door or you need a little bit of help, it's better to just wait for someone to come in and ask for their help instead of pulling the string.
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