Getting stuck in an elevator isn't just frustrating and annoying -- it can lead to serious injury or even death. Children in particular are vulnerable to elevator accidents because they don't have the same reasoning and physical capabilities that adults have. According to a report from CBS News, over 1,900 children (including teenagers) are injured in the United States each year from elevators.
If you have an elevator in your apartment and children either live with you or even occasionally visit, spend a moment talking to them about elevator safety. Here's what you should cover:
- Show children the "emergency" or "alarm" button. This is usually in red to easily distinguish it from the other buttons. Also point out the "emergency stop" button or "fire department call" button, if your elevator has these. Let children know that if the alarm doesn't sound, they should yell for help.
- Tell older children to use cell phone to call for help. If children who have cell phones are stuck in an elevator, point out that their cell phone can help save the day. Children should have your number programmed into their phone, and should know to dial 911 in an emergency.
- Instruct children to play it safe when alone in an elevator. If children are alone, their best bet is to sound the alarm and call for help. Trying to climb out the top of a stuck elevator, pry open the doors, or even go out the doors if they open onto anything other than level ground can be dangerous. Sadly, this happened in August 2008 to a five-year-old boy in Brooklyn, New York. According to a report from The New York Post, when riding the elevator one morning alone with his 8-year-old brother, the elevator got stuck. Suddenly, the doors opened between the 10th and 11th floors. The younger boy decided to jump but lost his balance and fell 10 stories down the elevator shaft to his death.
Having a quick, simple talk with children about what they should do if they find themselves alone in a stuck elevator may just save a life.
