stuck in elevator

I've responded to two calls with people trapped in elevators in the last month or so and we had to use some pretty heavy duty extrication gear to get them out. I'm talking hydraulic tools(both power and hand), Haligan bars, and deadshot mallets to free them. I'm not saying a small prybar wouldn't work, but it wouldn't likely have the leverage. Also, some doors have the locks on the outside of the elevator, so they are accessable to maintainence crews from the outside,not in the elevator itself. I'd prefer a cel phone over a small prybar in the event of becoming trapped.
 
It's a better argument for a cell phone.

What's curious to me is why, in Chicago, there is an elevator that opens at all without a working emergency line to a live operator. That's code in Chicago and many other places.

And no doubt, questions are being asked.
 
My cell won't work in any elevators. "It's the network."

So, if you're stuck in an elevator, you're stuck?
 
I got stuck many years ago , for about an hour. I just kept ringing the alarm ! I'm not sure a little prybar would help you much , and I'm surprised if a cell phone would work . I was alone and don't suffer from claustrophobia !! It was a prediction of things to come - I was back at that hotel a couple of months later and it closed -with me in it but nobody told me !!!!
 
Chewy1 said:
"

So, if you're stuck in an elevator, you're stuck?
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I just think it's more difficult getting out like in the movies than in reality, based on my experiences. One of the things to keep in mind is that if you call the direct line in the elevator, the person on the other end might very well call for an elevator mechanic first(so long as no one is in real danger). They know the systems best and will perform the extrication with as little possible damage to the elevator. We went to one lady whom was in the elevator for 4 hours before we were dispatched, eventhough the mechanic had been there all that time. My brother, an elevator mechanic sees firefighters(me) as elevator wreckers eventhough we get the job done.:D
 
I had a friend who had an internship this summer at an elevator company. His job was to answer the emergency pages from people stuck in the elevator. He had some interesting calls.
 
Bad News: I was stuck in an elevator about 3 months ago.

Good News: I had my cell phone, was even on it at the time, and it turns out that the thing started back up about 15 seconds later.
 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_fe_st/odd_stuck_in_elevator_3

Women get stuck in elevator for 2 days

Fri Jan 4, 4:18 PM ET

NILES, Ill. - Two cleaning women, trapped inside a broken elevator for two days, survived on two cough drops and six aspirin until they were rescued. Beata Bartoszewicz and her mother, Roma Borowski, entered an elevator in an empty building in this Chicago suburb on Dec. 22. After the elevator doors closed, the women discovered they were stuck on the first floor of the two-story building.

There was no response from an emergency call alarm and the women couldn't pry open the doors, Bartoszewicz said.

Neither had a cell phone or water and the building wasn't due to open until after Christmas.

The duo became dizzy from hunger. "I was close to thinking I was going to die," Bartoszewicz said.

The women tried to sleep on their coats and used a corner of the elevator as a bathroom.

Bartoszewicz said her mother continually reassured her.

"She kept saying, `We're going to be OK, and we're going to spend Christmas Eve at home,'" the 25-year-old said.

Two days later, on Christmas Eve, an employee of the building happened to go to work. Borowski said she heard him talking on his cell phone. The women yelled for his attention and he heard them.

Fire crews freed the women an hour later.

Bartoszewicz said the moral of the story is simple: "Always take your cell phone with you."
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They did pretty well. Even with a cell phone there's no guarantee it would work. This is a good reminder to always have your psk with you... or at least a snack and some water at all times.
 
I lived in russia for 2 years, and on several occasions got stuck in the elevators there. Most of the time just for an hour or two, but one time from getting stuck to being freed lasted something around 15 hours or so. Not a great day, but at the same time no real issues other than having to pee down the hole in the corner in pitch black darkness. Had a boker ceramic blade that was too scared to try and pry it open with, but certainly there was no chance of prying those doors open with my hands. Moral of the story, don't use russian elevators unless they resemble something you have seen in a well kept building. :D
 
Got stuck in an elevator many years ago - Fortunately I was with a neighbour who'd just done her week's shopping. Only lasted an hour - I was almost disappointed! :D
 
I used to work at a place where the lifts were pretty bad, they'd break down regularly. Most people used the stairs until OH&S said that wasn't safe and everyone had to use the lifts. Got stuck multiple times over the next year or so before I left. Longest was about 3 hours, just myself and my girlfriend at the time. Wasn't so bad IMO.

Wouldn't want to be stuck for 2 days though.
 
Umm...not trying to go against the grain here, but I'm gonna have to....
My wife and I used to leave in a 3 story building that was built in the 70's with an Otis elevator that used to stick a couple feet above or below a floor. It became so common that people got complacent about it or else just used the stairs.

To get out, I only had to pry the doors the first inch or so, usually I could use my palms flat on the doors to 'smear' them open. Once I got my fingers in the opening, I could force them enough (3-4" maybe) that they would finish opening with very little resistance. Granted I'm a big guy, but maybe the difference was that this lift still had power ? Dunno.

I remember one night when it happened with us and an older lady inside. We just hopped out because it had only gone up maybe a foot or so. This lady would NOT leave the car because she was afraid of slipping into the gap and down the shaft. Apparently she'd seen it in a movie.
 
Don't know about movies, but its our sop not to remove people that way for that reason. One foot is not much of a gap,although I've seen some strange things over the years....

We simply stand by for the elevator mechanic if there is no medical emergency etc.
 
I dont know too much about elevators, but is there a hatch on the top that would allow access to the elevator shaft?
 
A guy got stuck in an elevator in new high rise in Bellevue a few months ago. He opted to self-rescue, I believe by opening a hatch in the roof and climbing out. That was his last mistake.

-- FLIX
 
Chewy1 said:
What if ...um...you gotta go? Not to be crass, but, you know.
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Take off your shirt or jacket, whizz on the shirt or jacket (so that it soaks up the urine), remove a ceiling tile or open the ceiling access panel, and then throw shirt or jacket out of the elevator.

Same routine for a "number 2" only you use part of the shirt or jacket to wipe with....very disgusting really.
 
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