Citizens must always be mindful of their footing and never approach, step on, or climb manhole covers, especially at night and during rainy weather when visibility is poor. If you accidentally fall into a manhole and there is water or sediment inside, hold onto the gaps in the manhole wall with both hands to prevent yourself from sinking and shout for help towards the opening. If the temperature inside the manhole is low and no one rescues you for a long time, curl up to prevent frostbite or hypothermia. In case of any manhole cover-related danger, immediately call 119 for help.
Manhole cover management in China follows the principle of "whoever owns it, is responsible for it," with ownership units including water and electricity departments. In 2025, the rectification rate of manhole cover cases in Suqian City reached 97.89%, and Xiangtan City piloted the application of an intelligent monitoring system integrating Internet of Things technology to achieve real-time early warning.
