Have you been trapped in an elevator?
By Rexy_leigh
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
Philippines
April 18, 2007 4:23pm CST
OMG! just the thought of being trapped in the elevator scares me to death. well, who likes to be stuck inside the elevator for even just a couple of minutes? That's pretty scary huh!
And yes, my officemate has just been into that very dilemma I was talking about. We had a power block out here in the office just a while back, for about 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, Dante (my officemate) was on his way down the building when the elevator stopped somewhere in the middle because of power failure. He stayed there, calling all the saints and gods to help him get out of that place alive. And thank God his prayers were heard. He came out after about 10-15 minutes, with all the sweat and knee shaking so badly.
You could just imagine his face when he got out of the office. Poor Dante! :P
how about you, have you had an experience like being trapped somewhere closed, feeling so helpless? what did you do? does that cause some sort of trauma in your life? or a phobia?
do share your thoughts :)
12 people like this
30 responses
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I had thought I was going to be trapped once. Way back in grade school, I was with a friend at a hotel for something, and when we started going up in the elevator, it stopped at our floor and didn't open. It really only paused for like 30 seconds, but it freaked me out! I found out later that elevator just has a delayed reaction but at the time I instantly thought I was trapped and it was scary!!
I'm claustriphobic, but I've seen a lot of movies and i know there is usually a way out if you go through the ceiling, who knows if any real person could do that though!
2 people like this
@rogen_andrei (638)
• Philippines
19 Apr 07
I have not personally experienced being trapped inside the elevator yet, and I don't dream of getting into that situation if given a choice. I have heard some horrible stories about being caught up in this situation, and I can feel the trauma of those people who had been to this.
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
Indeed, the trauma would be haunting you especially if it happened for like more than 15 minutes. :P
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
18 Apr 07
I have been trapped 2 times in an elevator. Its not fun, you don't know how long you will be in there, thankfully both times were not long. I am not a clastrophobic person, but I do understand the feeling some. I did start to feel that way, its not nice, its also scary.
2 people like this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
am not claustrophobic too, but I wouldn't dare wish to be trapped inside the elevator for even just a couple of minutes, especially when am alone. that's pretty scary. :P
@mithiladarpan (131)
• India
19 Apr 07
Yes,once for some technical reason the door did not open and me along with seven others were trapped inside. As it was detected soon and we were assured over phone that the technical guy is on job,we did not panic.
1 person likes this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
19 Apr 07
there's nothing to really panic about. when the electric power is back, everyone will be safe. unless the power failure goes on for many minutes like more than 15 minutes, it's the time when you should panic... it's truly hot inside elevators for sure.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
19 Apr 07
Being stuck in an elevator is one of my biggest fears. I would freak out if stuck on an elevator. Now certainly I would try to remember to do all the things I have been taught to calm anxiety, breathe deeply..in through the nose...out through the mouth, focus on a 'favorite place' and imagine being there, but I'm not sure any of those things would help. I get a strong visual on what it would look like with me stuck on the elevator. I would be frantic, probably sweating and with a rapid heartbeat, I'd likely be crying, there would be excrement running down my legs and I would be screaming loudly for help!
1 person likes this
@Rexy_leigh (1189)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
I guess I'd most likely look the same way, crazynurse.. :P especially if am stuck there alone.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
20 Apr 07
I nearly had that experience twice, and after which, I never took the lift anymore. I climbed the stairs. I lived on the 5th floor, and not once, but twice,
after I get out of the lift, the lift got jammed. The people inside were trapped. I congratulated and consoled myself that I was really lucky not to be trapped, but I was not too sure I would be that lucky a third time. I decide not to give it a chance as I cannot imagine what would happen without air and without lights :P
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
29 Apr 07
this is wise of you, whyaskq. it is more difficult to be trapped in an elevator than to climb the flight of stairs to the fifth floor. there is a plus to this, too, a good exercise for you while doing it. good for the body, excellent for the heart.
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
19 Apr 07
yep. years ago when i went to singapore. we were three inside the elevator going to the upper floor. when suddenly, the elevator stopped and the lights went off. it was power failure for like 5 to 10 minutes. we relaxed and did not panic. but it was so hot inside the elevator. we were all sweating. but we kept our cool. panicking won't do anything good for us. minutes later, power went back and we got out of the elevator safe and sound.
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
20 Apr 07
Rexy_leigh, I missed that experience very narrowly years ago. I had some official matter to handle on floor 17 of some of the tallest buildings in my city-there were many people rushing for the lift, I was the last to enter and just as the lift wa about to start its climb to floor 17, a big officer came around and out of repect, I gave him my space-after about two floors, power went off and the next thing we heard was screaming in the lift-we are told the occupants were already running out of air. It took 15 minutes to put on the stanby generator and by the time the left started again, the senior officer i gave way to was sweating very profusely! I thought it was a narrow escape for me!
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I remember once a long time ago being stuck in an Elevator for a short time, and it was not Fun. Luckily it was not very long, and when they got the Door open, they closed the Elevator from anyone using it until it could be checked out. But if it would have been in the Dark, I would have been Panicking too, or Praying a lot, because that would not be a Good experience at all. I know I would probably of panicked a litte like your Co-worker did as well.
1 person likes this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
29 Apr 07
I have never been trapped in an elevator yet. Oh, my thanks. Although there was a time when the elevator stopped for a while. It was in a hotel where I attended a conference in Manila, Philippines. I cannot exactly remember the details anymore. I recall though that we all kept quite and stared at each other. There were few of us only therein. Something like three. We all gave a sigh of relief when it commenced going up.
@ladyjava (1184)
• Malaysia
29 Apr 07
Have I ever!... The majority of Singaporeans all live in highrise... I, am no different.
I was caught in a lift when I was only 11 ( I think). It was a scary situation. We had about 5 people in the lift at that time. The lift just stopped with a jerk. The lights went off for a while and on again.. You can see everyone faces went white...lol.. and then we started pressing the alarm bell and you can see everyone started praying.. including me... about 1/2hr later, the service maintenance people came. Because we were caught in between floors, it was not as easy they just opening the dooor. They had to open the emergency door hatch ontop the lift we had to be lifted up and away to the next floor with "lift door"..
It was a scary time and I had not been caught in another one since then.. Thank God!!
Pst. there was a plump lady with us that had problems with the small opening.. so we had to push her real hard... lol.. i hope we did not break any bones in the proces...ehheh
@aweins (4199)
• India
29 Apr 07
yes, once i was trapped in it that too when i was out of my city. i felt sp suffocated and the worst part was that it was not having much space and we were 3 people. i was feeling very suffocated because of the phycology i think that i was not able to see anything, as the power went off or there was some problem or so. everything stopped. no air was felt inside. only two people could come in the space left there apart from the 3 of us. it was a very bad feeling.
@jayanvarkala (489)
• India
20 Apr 07
I just can not imagine that I myself alone will trapped in an elevator. I somebody with me no problem. I hate elevators.
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
22 May 07
I see that you & I both started this discussion a month ago. I'm not sure started first, but it does not matter. Anyway to answer your question I use to visit my mother a lot when she was in hospital and a few times I got stuck, but never for long hours.
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
19 Apr 07
just once, it was my first year of college and I was on my way to room with my roommate. We got stuck in the elevator for a few minutes. We just sat there and made fun of the building and what not until the elevator started up again.
@courtlynne77 (4839)
• United States
19 Apr 07
No, I have never been trapped in a eleavator. The scaries thing that has happen to me with a elevator was at the mall. The doors opened for us to get inside and my son who was about three at the time was walking, my infant daughter was in her stroller, my son stepped in and the doors flew shut! I heard my son scream and I left the stroller with my mom and made a run for it. I pushed past people on the escalator and ran to the ground floor eleavator. I got there just as the door opened, my poor little guy was crying. My mom told me when we met back up with her that she could hear him scream the whole way down.
@bodomgirl (1614)
• Italy
19 Apr 07
fortunatelly i never been trapped on an elevator but i heard some people had this experience and they didnt feel good :-D
@emisle (3822)
• Ireland
19 Apr 07
I actually used to hate travelling in elevators when I was younger, it was because I didn't like the chance that it could breakdown and I'd be stuck. Now I have no problem though. I'd hate to be stuck in an elevator, but if I was, I'm the type of person who'd remain calm and just sit tight until help came.
@webbuff (926)
• Philippines
19 Apr 07
yes i did and its was also my funniest moment.. we are like 10 in the elevator and it suddenly stopped.. we are like in a can of sardines and its soo hot... we're trapped at around 15 minutes and it was frustrating.. gasping for air.. the fun par is that one of the people inside fart.. golly.. it was sooo funny i cant laugh.. lol.. never had a phobia thou definitely would love to experience it again but this time with a girl. lol.
