Annually, there are more than 200 billion trips taken in elevators. This considered, there are approximately 150 deaths and 18,000 injuries caused by elevator related incidents per year (Courtley, 2012). This being said elevators are considerably safe (statistically).
It is very important to remain aware in every situation. With a trip on an elevator, it usually proceeds with you pushing a button, the door opening, and you entering. We tend not to consider how the elevator works, or when it was last inspected, but being aware of and understanding the basic operation of technologies like an elevator can be very beneficial and help you in an emergency situation. Many injuries and deaths caused by elevators are due to door malfunctions. This could mean the door opens and there is no car there, and people who died from this malfunction did so because they stepped forward and fell down the shaft; reinforcing the idea that you should always remain AWARE and look up from your cellphone (I can’t lie and say that I’ve never gotten engrossed by a text or email while walking somewhere). In other cases, the door signal may malfunction and a car might move before everyone is on/off. When using technology remember that you need to still be aware of your surroundings, and not always rely on that machine 100%. Remain alert!
ELEVATOR ENTRAPMENT:
According to Courtley, rescue from a stalled elevator takes about three hours on average. Most elevators have hatches concealed by paneling which provide an exit at the top of the car, but this is an option you should only consider under dire circumstances, and it is usually best to wait it out. If you find yourself trapped, you may like many others suffer from extreme panic. This may cause a heart attack, so in this situation it is important to use your mental resources to remain calm. If you find yourself trapped, you should:
– Push the open door button. If the car is at the landing, it will open.
– If the door does not open, don’t worry you are probably still safe. Do NOT crawl out of a stalled elevator, especially if the door opens between floors.
– Use the alarm or help button, the telephone, or the intercom to call for help.
– If service response time exceeds thirty minutes, 911 or the fire department should be called to report the entrapment first.
(Courtley, 2012).
References:
Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books
think safety blog 