Why you shouldn’t get out of a stuck lift when you get stuck between two floors

As technology advances and maintenance work is carried out, this is happening less and less frequently. However, no one is exempt from suffering an incident of this type, so in this post we will talk not so much about how to get out of a lift stuck between two floors as, in fact, about something more important: why you should not try to get out and what we recommend you do.

As we are aware that being stuck in the lift is one of the most common lift phobias that people suffer from, we want to reassure you and offer you all the necessary information about what to do in this type of situation. If this has ever happened to you and you didn’t know how to react, or you simply want to be forewarned, read on!

What to do if you get stuck in a lift or trapped between two floors

Now that we know the possible causes that can lead to this breakdown, it is very important to know how to act in order to solve the problem as soon as possible. For this reason, we bring you the following behavioural guidelines that are sure to help you in these situations:

• First and foremost, stay calm. It will help you to be rational and not act impulsively, which is very necessary in the event of entrapment. Lifts have ventilation systems as a safety measure.
• Under no circumstances should you try to get out of the lift by your own means. There are serious risks to your physical integrity and to the lift. We strongly recommend that you wait for a professional rescue machine, as there is a risk of falling into the pit. The technician will move the cabin to the floor so that you can get out safely.
• Contact the outside world for help. Although trying to call your neighbours may help, we recommend that you take other actions first instead:

1. Press the alarm button on your lift: Most lifts have a telephone in the cabin to contact the maintenance company’s emergency service in case of entrapment. You will also find an alarm button located precisely for these cases, marked with a yellow bell. This button will be activated by pressing it for five seconds and an alarm will sound to alert the neighbours. At the same time, a voice call will be made to the lift maintenance company.
2. Call the maintenance telephone: In the event that your lift does not have a telephone line connected to your maintenance company, the most usual thing is that the lift cabin has a sticker with the 24-hour service number for maintenance and breakdowns. These types of calls from lift cabins enter us immediately, and are prioritised over others that may occur at the same time. In addition, the teleoperator, by identifying the numbers of each cabin, knows in advance from which direction the trapping call is coming in.
3. Call the emergency services: if the above does not work, call 112, as they are always ready to help resolve any incident.

Why you shouldn’t try to get out on your own in a lift entrapment

Although we have mentioned it before, we would like to stress the importance of not getting out of the lift on your own if you get stuck between two floors.

Even if the doorman opens the door or a neighbour, a fireman or a policeman tries to help you, there is still a risk of falling into the pit if the lift is not level. You have to wait for the technician, who is a well-trained professional who knows how to perform rescues safely, to take the cabin to the floor without any unevenness so that you can get out calmly. It doesn’t matter if the waiting time is longer, the important thing is to get out safely.

When the cabin is between floors, a wider gap is exposed than may appear to the naked eye, which is highly likely to cause you to fall into the pit, even if you think you are jumping with all your might. Nowadays, many lifts have a skirt under the cabin, but as you cannot be sure that your lift has one, we strongly recommend that you wait for the technician to arrive.

Your safety comes first!