VIDEO: Firefighters in the Ozarks spent this week training on how to rescue people from elevators if they get stuck. โElevators can malfunction like any mechanical item can,โ said Jared Smith with the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District. Smith said multiple firefighters like himself from different agencies in the Ozarks participated in an elevator operations class this week.
โThatโs basically a classroom portion where we learn the anatomy of the elevators, how to identify different types of elevators, the components that are on the elevators so how to get in them and out,โ Smith said. โWe learned how to operate them on a fire scene, how to make rescues if thereโs somebody stuck in the elevators, then we followed that up with hands-on scenarios with props. We actually went to real sites and performed different operations for hoisting and lowering the cars.โ
He said a lot of elevator issues are due to mechanical failures. Other firefighters like Russ Lafferty say donโt panic if you do get stuck. โA lot of people are a little claustrophobic. Itโs going to get tight, the airs going to get a little stale. Just realize weโre doing our best and weโll get you out as soon as possibly can,โ Lafferty said. If you get trapped, make sure to press the emergency button on an elevator and wait patiently until help arrives. Smith said never try to pry the doors open yourself.
