Trapped in a lift
April 28, 2009 7:36 AM Subscribe
So I'm trapped in a lift.
It's stopped between floors. I've managed to get the doors open, and I could crawl out.
Is this a good idea or should I wait to be rescued?
Might the lift drop a bit further and chop me in half?
It's stopped between floors. I've managed to get the doors open, and I could crawl out.
Is this a good idea or should I wait to be rescued?
Might the lift drop a bit further and chop me in half?
This post was deleted for the following reason: Making it clear in your question that you're asking about survivability in a hypothetical situation would go a long way toward not causing a mess, attracting a pile of flags, and getting your question deleted. -- cortex
Push the alarm button. There is an alarm button, yes?
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 7:38 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 7:38 AM on April 28, 2009
Did you press the emergency button? Do you have phone access? Have you called 911? Don't tempt fate if you don't have to.
posted by mkultra at 7:39 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by mkultra at 7:39 AM on April 28, 2009
Is it really worth the risk, however small? Seriously. I would just be waiting it out.
posted by gwenlister at 7:40 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by gwenlister at 7:40 AM on April 28, 2009
Uh, I'd vote for wait. What you fear has happened to people, so, though it's rare, I wouldn't risk it. If your internet connection works, you should call 911.
posted by zpousman at 7:40 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by zpousman at 7:40 AM on April 28, 2009
Best answer: For those worried about devnull's wellbeing: check the tags.
posted by Ms. Next at 7:40 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by Ms. Next at 7:40 AM on April 28, 2009
Stay where you are. Relax and wait for help. Call rescue services if you have not done so already.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:41 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by Ironmouth at 7:41 AM on April 28, 2009
I would exhaust all other options before attempting to crawl out. The elevator could start moving again.
Is there no one else in the building, or no chance of a passerby being alerted to your plight?
posted by anazgnos at 7:42 AM on April 28, 2009
Is there no one else in the building, or no chance of a passerby being alerted to your plight?
posted by anazgnos at 7:42 AM on April 28, 2009
Woo! Real emergency! What's happened now?
FWIF; unless you are in danger, dont go jumping from the frying pan. You have connectivity so kick back and wait!
posted by BadMiker at 7:42 AM on April 28, 2009
FWIF; unless you are in danger, dont go jumping from the frying pan. You have connectivity so kick back and wait!
posted by BadMiker at 7:42 AM on April 28, 2009
This happened to Stephen Fry not too long ago.
The elevator should not be able to move with the doors open, as far as I know, but not an elevator engineer.
If it's between floors the shaft below will be exposed, so be careful getting out. I guess for me it would depend on how much room I had to get out, and how far of a drop to the floor (or climb to the next one).
No way I'd hang out if I didn't have to, but no way I'd take a stupid risk either.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2009
The elevator should not be able to move with the doors open, as far as I know, but not an elevator engineer.
If it's between floors the shaft below will be exposed, so be careful getting out. I guess for me it would depend on how much room I had to get out, and how far of a drop to the floor (or climb to the next one).
No way I'd hang out if I didn't have to, but no way I'd take a stupid risk either.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2009
If you DO decide to jump out, jump quickly...don't dilly. Tuck and roll so if it starts moving (it won't be moving fast) you'll be out before it matters.
But yeah..only jump if you must I would think.
posted by arniec at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2009
But yeah..only jump if you must I would think.
posted by arniec at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2009
On preview, burying the 'hypothetical' tag in an otherwise sincerely-presented question is a crappy thing to do.
posted by anazgnos at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by anazgnos at 7:44 AM on April 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Well, the tags could also be interpreted as saying, "trapped" in "lift", worried about "theoretical chopchop" --- rather than "theoretically trapped in lift"
posted by suedehead at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by suedehead at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2009
Best answer: Nope, don't try to get out. Up and Then Down: "Trying to run in through closing doors is asking for trouble; so is climbing up into an elevator car, or down out of one, when it is stuck between floors..."
posted by cocoagirl at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2009
posted by cocoagirl at 7:51 AM on April 28, 2009
Depends on how big the gap is that you managed to create, how hard it would be to get out through that gap, and how old the elevator you're in is.
If it's an old elevator, the odds of it having certain safety features are reduced, but in general I doubt the elevator is going to move at this point, until a technician comes to fix things, because you opened the doors.
Might be dumb of me, but I would personally climb out if the elevator hadn't moved for a considerable amount of time, if it had just stopped. If the cable snaps, there are security features on an elevator that would lock the elevator car in place. So no plunging to your death. You watch way too many movies.
posted by lizbunny at 7:52 AM on April 28, 2009
If it's an old elevator, the odds of it having certain safety features are reduced, but in general I doubt the elevator is going to move at this point, until a technician comes to fix things, because you opened the doors.
Might be dumb of me, but I would personally climb out if the elevator hadn't moved for a considerable amount of time, if it had just stopped. If the cable snaps, there are security features on an elevator that would lock the elevator car in place. So no plunging to your death. You watch way too many movies.
posted by lizbunny at 7:52 AM on April 28, 2009
Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.
Really, make sure you call who you need to to make sure you get help, before you lose batteries. Then wait.
posted by procrastination at 7:54 AM on April 28, 2009
Really, make sure you call who you need to to make sure you get help, before you lose batteries. Then wait.
posted by procrastination at 7:54 AM on April 28, 2009
Is this a good idea or should I wait to be rescued?
Even though they seem scary, elevators have many redundant safety systems that make them incredibly safe. A lot of things would go wrong other than it getting stuck for you to get into any kind of trouble by staying put. Once in a while someone gets trapped in an elevator and nobody notices for a few days, but as long as somebody is around and knows you're in there you'll be fine.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:55 AM on April 28, 2009
Even though they seem scary, elevators have many redundant safety systems that make them incredibly safe. A lot of things would go wrong other than it getting stuck for you to get into any kind of trouble by staying put. Once in a while someone gets trapped in an elevator and nobody notices for a few days, but as long as somebody is around and knows you're in there you'll be fine.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:55 AM on April 28, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Personally I think you ought to wait, until you're 100% sure you won't get hurt. Unless you're in some other danger like the building is on fire.
Can you use the phone/intercom that's in the elevator?
Can you shout for help?
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 7:38 AM on April 28, 2009