Would you know what to do if trapped in an elevator? You might deal with anxiety and fear every time you step on an elevator if you aren’t sure how you should react to getting stuck in one.
Fortunately, many modern-day elevators offer elevator phone monitoring service, allowing you to reach out for immediate assistance in an emergency.
Still, you should know what to do if you’re ever trapped in an elevator to prevent a potentially bad situation. Check out our elevator safety tips below.
Take Deep Breaths and Remain Calm
Staying calm when stuck in an elevator is easier said than done. However, maintaining composure is important, as it will give you some clarity about what to do.
Should you find yourself stuck in an elevator, close your eyes and take several deep breaths. This can calm your nerves and help you make better decisions in a crisis.
Push the Door Open Button
Believe it or not, simply pushing the door open button on an elevator’s control panel might do the trick. Hold down this button for about five seconds to see if your elevator doors open.
Elevator doors sometimes jam when they close, and pushing this button could open them back up and allow them to close properly. It’s worth trying this before you call for help.
Look for an Elevator Emergency Button and Press It
All elevators have emergency buttons somewhere on their control panels. Find the elevator emergency button and push it once, or see if you can locate an emergency phone.
Elevators equipped with 24/7 answering services will connect you to someone who can help during an elevator emergency. Explain your situation to them and follow their instructions while waiting for rescuers to arrive.
Avoid Trying To Exit a Stuck Elevator on Your Own
If you begin to panic while determining what to do if trapped in an elevator, you might be tempted to try to get out on your own. This is, unfortunately, one of the many common causes of elevator accidents, some of which can be fatal.
You could seriously injure yourself and others by attempting to escape from a stuck elevator without help from trained professionals. Stay put so you don’t put your well-being at risk while trying to climb out of an elevator.
People Shouldn’t Be Left Wondering What To Do If Trapped in an Elevator in Your Building
The chances of getting stuck in an elevator are very low. Only about one out of every 100,000 elevators in the U.S. gets stuck at some point, but that shouldn’t stop people from learning what to do if they are trapped in one.
It also shouldn’t stop you from performing the proper maintenance to prevent people from getting stuck. Install a remote monitoring system as well so that you’re always prepared for elevator emergencies.
Contact ELEVATE Monitoring today for more information on setting up a remote monitoring system for your building’s elevators.