What to do if you are stuck in an elevator
It rarely happens, but in the event that you are stuck in an elevator, here are ten important things to remember.
1. Remain calm. It will be impossible to think clearly if you panic.
2. If you have mobile phone signal, call for help immediately. Remember to give the address and the name of the building.
3. If you don’t have mobile phone signal, try if you can pry the doors open just enough to improve mobile phone reception.
4. Do not try and force the doors open yourself so you can escape. If the elevator starts working again, you could be caught in a dangerous situation.
5. Press the call button. This will alert maintenance personnel that you are stuck in the elevator and need help to get out. Press the “doors open” button. Sometimes this button can just get jammed and if you press it, the elevator will open right away. You can also try the “door close” button. That could have gotten jammed as well.
6. If none of those options work, try pressing each of the floor buttons one by one, waiting for any response before you press the next one.
7. If it is dark, use your mobile phone as a light source.
8. Do not escape through hatches in the ceiling. This can be extremely dangerous.
9. If you have waited for more than 30 minutes, shout for help or use your shoe to bang inside the walls of the elevator.
10. Be patient. You will get rescued. Stay calm.
