Stuck in an Elevator

[Erik]

My cousin, best friend, and the elevator repair man all got stuck in an elevator once.

Doors were easy to pull open and we just rolled out (we were stuck between floors), leaving the terrified repair man last (go figure).

I didn't think much of this until about 30 minutes ago when a colleague mentioned that he had been stuck in an elevator (UC Santa Barbara, ca. 1984) with about 15 people. It got stuck. They pulled the doors open and one guy, who was freaking out, jumped up and started shimmying his way out.

At that moment, the elevator dropped and cut him in half. He's dead, of course. Gruesome. Poor kid.

So, what should one do if stuck in an elevator (other than call for help)?

What if we must free ourselves?

What could go wrong (sudden drop)?

What safety mechanisms are in place?

[Abbax8]

Unless the elevator was in danger of crashing to the floor, I would stay put, call for help.

Dennis

[Webmaster]

Unless the elevator was in danger of crashing to the floor, I would stay put, call for help.

Same here. The two buildings I have worked in on campus have elevators that are just plain scary, so I have tought about this a bit. Staying put, contacting someone and relaxing is the best thing you can do. Only under the worse of circumstances would I try anything crazy like you see in the movies.

[David Craik]

Same here. Elevators are extremely safe; prior to 9/11 there was only one incident involving a free-fall in a modern elevator and even then it was because a bomber crashed into the building. Elevators typically have 6 or 8 cables, each capable of holding more than the loaded weight of the elevator by themself. There is a safety brake mechinism and also a hydraulic buffer at the bottom.

http://www.windypundit.com/archives/...ot_really.html

You have more probability of death or injury on an escalator. Of course if the building is damaged or on fire you should be headed to the stairs or fire escape.