26/03/2026
Managing an elevator entrapment requires a calm, systematic approach, especially when children are involved, as their distress levels can escalate quickly.
Here is a professional standard operating procedure for handling this scenario:
1. Immediate Response & Communication
• Establish Contact: Use the intercom to speak with the occupants immediately.
• Calm the Children: Use a soothing, authoritative tone. Tell the children that they are safe, the elevator is held by strong steel cables, and the "rescue team" is already on the way.
• Gather Intelligence: Confirm the number of people, their health status, and whether the lights and fan are still working.
• Instruction: Explicitly tell them not to try and pry the doors open or climb out of the hatch, as the car could move unexpectedly.
2. Technical Deployment
• Locate the Car: Determine exactly which floor the elevator is stuck on or between.
• Engage Specialists: Immediately notify the elevator maintenance company (AMC) and the building’s technical team.
• CCTV Monitoring: If the lift has a camera, keep a dedicated security guard watching the feed to monitor the children’s behavior and physical condition (e.g., checking for signs of fainting or extreme panic).
3. Crowd and Environment Control
• Clear the Landing: Station guards at the floor where the elevator is stuck to keep onlookers and worried parents away from the doors, providing space for the technicians to work.
• Ventilation: If the power is out and the elevator is between floors, the technical team should ensure the hoistway vents are clear to maintain airflow.
4. The Extraction
• Mechanical Braking: Only qualified technicians or Civil Defence should perform a manual "brake release" to level the car.
• Safe Exit: Once the car is leveled and doors are opened, assist the children out first.
• Medical Check: Even if they appear fine, have a first aid responder or paramedic check the children for shock or dehydration.
5. Post-Incident Protocol
• Decommission: Keep the elevator "Out of Service" until a full safety audit is completed and signed off by the maintenance provider.
• Reporting: Log the exact timings of the call, the arrival of the technicians, and the successful extraction for the incident report.
3A Security Service
