What's the protocol..? (Kinda gross, don;t read if you're eating heh)

[Kadana Sorano]

I don't remember reading anything in Miss Manners about being sick in public places.  And really, it's not something I'd ever have gave a second thought to.  Until it happened to me.

So shopping at Walmart, and get a sudden onset of dizziness and nausea, and before you know it you're getting sick in the frozen meal isle, and counting your blessings no one is around to see and bear witness to your humiliation.

But now you've made a mess, in a very public place, and a very busy place.  Someone could come in the isle at any moment.  You just want to "flee the scene" as it were. 

So, what is the protocol for this situation?  Do you go and get something and try and clean it up, do you go and tell a worker there is a mess, and not mention who made it?  Offer to clean it? 

Tonight, I fled to the bathroom, where I finished being sick.  It was that, or make an even bigger mess.  But afterwards.. afterwards I fear I took the cowards way out, and quickly pushed my cart into a check out line, paid and left.  I feel awful for it now, and really bad for whoever has to clean it.  but at the time, I was overcome by sheer embarrassment, not to mention confusion over what caused this to begin with heh

And yea, I feel fine now, not counting a headache.  But no belly disquiet or dizziness.

Anyway, I dislike rudeness.  And I do try and be polite.. even with someone I hate, may not be nice, but I will at least try and be polite..  But what is the polite thing in this situation?  Certainly not fleeing the scene!  But then what?  How would Miss Manners cover this?

[PonyMama]

generally they won't fault you for being sick, just a polite "I got sick ran to the bathroom, but not before I kinda made a mess of your frozen meat department sorry" works wonders

I understand being embarrassed, I have two kids, believe me, they have both more than once caught me unprepared in the grocery store,  the people are usually pretty patient and wave it off

[SPO]

Yikes poor Kadana. I would finish up in the bathroom then quietly tell Customer Service what happened. Let them know the stall and aisle. Then they can clean it up.

[Silvanon]

I agree with PM & SPO, best to let a worker know.  They'll have the appropriate cleaning materials to take care of it (and the appropriate "wet floor" signs to put up around it), and will appreciate knowing it's there so they can take care of it quickly before someone else wanders through and makes the mess bigger.

But *pats*  don't feel bad, you were having a sickness emergency and were not at your best, and it's not something you'd thought through beforehand, so just chalk it up to experience and next time you'll already know what you want to do about it.

[Kadana Sorano]

*hugs* thanks guys!  And yea, I had to rush to get home to pick Rosewood up and take her to an appointment, and had another stop (at another grocery store) on the way.  Wandered through the fruits and veg section first thing and swiped a plastic veggie bag, carried it through the store with me.  Felt completely silly, and like everyone was staring, though I doubt they realized anything.

anyway, I'm starting to think it was a symptom of migraine, because I have that floaty head feeling now, and the light is piercing.  So dinners done, family tended to, I'm headed to bed for an early night.