This Article offers a review some of the basics about elevators, initial action plan suggestions, tool assignments and some basic elevator rescue techniques for all levels of experience: awareness, operations and technician
While Department SOP’s may dictate your level of involvement in an elevator rescue, the Awareness level actions are pretty unobtrusive, and can calm the trapped persons by involving them in their own rescue until an elevator Service technician arrives on scene.
- Identify location and condition of elevator car.
- Determine number of occupants and triage their condition.
- If occupants are ringing bell, instruct them to stop.
- Ask occupant to cycle the power. Ask them to use the STOP button, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. Ask them to push the Door Open button.
- Call the elevator using the elevator call button.
- Use firefighter’s service recall from the lobby.
- Access EMR and elevator control panel.
- Verify location of correct power shut-off switch with elevator car number or geographic relationship to other elevator banks.
- Shut off elevator power, wait 30 seconds, then restore power.
- Call the elevator.
- Use firefighter’s service recall.
- Call elevator service technician.
Another Good page with additional information on elevators can be found at http://www.urbanfiretraining.com/elevator-rescue.html
and
http://firefightertoolbox.com/elevator-rescue-101/
