If you’ve ever accidentally hit the “call” button in your business’s elevator, you likely experienced a few moments of panic. What happens next? Will emergency services come busting down the door?
Accidentally hitting the call button on an elevator certainly isn’t the end of the world. You’ll connect with the elevator video monitoring or call monitoring provider, who will assess the situation and provide assistance if necessary.
The Typical Course of Action When You Hit the Emergency Call Button on an Elevator
In most elevators, pressing the emergency call button doesn’t immediately dispatch emergency services to your location. Instead, the following protocol occurs.
- Two-way communication: Most modern elevators contain two-way communication systems. Pressing the call button connects you with an emergency technician at the elevator monitoring company. You can speak back and forth with this technician about what’s going on.
- Operator clarification: If you accidentally hit the call button on the elevator, tell the agent what happened. They will assess the situation and clarify whether you need help.
- Call cancellation: Once the agent confirms it was an accidental alert, they will cancel any emergency responses.
Meanwhile, the elevator should continue working as usual. You can exit the elevator at any time, but it’s best to spend a few seconds talking to the agent and confirming that you do not need help.
What If the Agent Can’t Hear You?
Depending on the age and condition of the elevator monitoring system, you may have trouble communicating with the agent on the line. The microphone may not work properly, or you may be unable to hear the agent on the other end. Some older elevators don’t have communication systems at all; instead, pressing the call button signals for the monitoring company to send help to your location.
In this case, you can try pressing the button again to cancel the call. See if the light around the button dims when you press it a second time.
If you cannot cancel the call or speak with the agent, exit the elevator and call the elevator monitoring company directly to inform it about the accidental alarm activation. (If you are not the business owner, alert someone at the business that you have accidentally pressed the call button. They can contact the monitoring company for you.)
If all else fails, the worst that can happen is that first responders show up to the business, see that there is no active elevator emergency, and leave.
Upgrade Your Elevator Monitoring System Today
A reliable, modern elevator monitoring system helps you quickly mitigate negative consequences when you accidentally hit the call button in an elevator. You’ll be able to speak with an agent, clarify the situation, and move on with your day in a matter of minutes.
ELEVATE Monitoring is setting the standard for modern elevator calling equipment. We offer innovative video two-way communication equipment with real-time monitoring from knowledgeable, trained agents. Contact us today to learn more, then discover the potential impact of an elevator monitoring system on your business.
