With close friends and family that you feel comfortable talking to, explain that you need to make sure a bathroom is always within easy reach. Incontinence is more common than many people realise – you might discover that other people in your life are experiencing it too.
Talking about incontinence and sharing your experiences with others may help with deciding where to go, what activities to do, or in making sure a compromise is possible (so you can stay near a bathroom if you need to).
If you can’t see a public toilet nearby, ask a shop or restaurant if you can use theirs. Even if an establishment says their toilets are for customers only, asking politely and explaining that it’s an exceptional situation should work with sympathetic staff.
The most important thing is to try and stay calm, and focus on your next step rather than dwelling on the fact that you’ve experienced a leak. It happens to the best of us, but with a ready plan you’ll be back to your normal day in no time.
Loss of bladder control doesn't have to ruin your day. It may help to understand more about urinary incontinence in adults or read all about the link between mental health and incontinence.