Convenience, at times, can have a price. The ability to reach your destination within a building in a matter of seconds is made possible by the ubiquitous elevator. However, elevator safety is important, so be aware of elevator self-defense techniques in case of emergencies. This literal box-on-a-cable is taken for granted these days as hundreds or thousands of riders utilize this handy timesaver. 

However, most users fail to consider that an elevator can be the catalyst that jeopardizes your safety. From physical assaults to smoke-filled fires to panic attacks and more, stepping into “the box” can be a life-threatening ordeal. Here, we’ll explore what can put you in harm’s way and detail how you can get both feet (and the rest of you) back safely on the ground.

Overcoming Phobias

Anxiety and panic can overcome a person almost instantly once inside an elevator if they have one or more of these three phobias: claustrophobia, acrophobia, and Agoraphobia. Claustrophobia is, most likely, the most well-known of the three, with it being the fear of enclosed spaces. Once the elevator doors shut, people with this condition may quickly start to sweat, experience an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and a tightening of their chest. 

Acrophobia is the fear of heights, so these people will begin feeling anxious as the elevator continues on its upward path. Finally, Agoraphobia is the fear of unsafe locations with no means of escape. For these individuals, ideas of an emergency that may occur when traveling inside can wreak havoc on their nerves and thoughts, with high anxiety or panic quickly following. 

Anyone suffering from one or more of these phobias should either take the stairway if the floor isn’t too high up, try to avoid the trip if possible, or, for long-term peace, seek professional help to overcome the hindering phobia. 

Safety and Awareness Within the Elevator

You can’t control who rides with you in the elevator; that is true. But you can be aware of everyone around you, take notice of questionable individuals, and position yourself in the most strategically sound position inside. Don’t assume they look “fine” and couldn’t pose a threat. Looks can be deceiving, so it’s best to trust your natural instinct or sixth sense. This dominant feeling that something isn’t “right” shouldn’t be ignored when triggered. 

If your inner voice is saying something is wrong, then take action and attempt to get off at the next stop, even if it’s not your intended destination. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t get the opportunity to get off, then position yourself close to the control panel with your back to the corner, allowing you to view the entire interior of the elevator. 

Taking a victim by surprise is the hope of most attackers, so don’t give them the opportunity. In fact, just being alert can possibly deter an attack altogether. Your body language also can save you. Being alert, standing tall, and scanning your surroundings exhibit confidence and a possible challenge that an assailant may want to avoid. Being meek, avoiding eye contact, or fiddling with your phone or a handful of grocery bags make you look weak and an easy target. 

If the elevator is crowded, don’t let down your guard. Pickpockets can swipe your valuables or purse as they bump you when exiting. Keep items close to your body and hard to snag by a sticky-finger foe. 

Getting Physical

There’s a time to be aware, and then there’s a time to get physical. Defending yourself within an elevator is not a no-win scenario if you know what to do. First, at the first sign of an attack, mash all the buttons on the elevator. You may stop it on a closed floor, giving you a better chance of escaping. 

Next, if you aren’t carrying a dedicated self-defense weapon, you have some improvised options. Your keys can help increase your power (even if you are far smaller than your attacker) by directing your thrusts through the small tip of the key. Your strikes should be directed to your attacker’s eyes, face, and throat, and don’t hold back. Unleash a barrage and deliver a message to your assailant that you won’t be taken down easily. Being in a confined location, you can’t use large wind-up punches or high kicks. 

Instead, opt for elbow and knee strikes, and again, directed towards the attacker’s vital areas. The confined location of the attack doesn’t necessarily give the advantage to your foe as many people may think. The confined walls can help you stay on your feet, provide a push-off when you mount an offense, and, if in a clutch, you can shove your opponent’s head against the hard wall. 

Trapped Inside

The signs just outside the elevator opening read, “In case of fire, use the stairs,” and this was put there for a very good reason that an elevator is not the place to be during a fire. Many elevators have a fire-safety mode; if smoke is detected, the elevator will go directly to the ground floor. However, if there is smoke on the ground floor, it will travel and open to a floor without signs of smoke. 

Naturally, if smoke somehow permeates the elevator, push the alarm and use the phone (or intercom) to call for help. In the meantime, get low to the ground, where smoke permeates less. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth, like a handkerchief or scarf, or a piece of clothing you can rip from your outfit. It’s best to wait for help rather than trying to pry open the doors and escape. Though this may instinctively be your first and best option, you could actually let a lot more smoke inside if the fire is nearby. 

Going Dark

Blackouts can occur when you least expect them, and being inside an elevator when they happen can trigger extreme panic. However, modern technology will keep the emergency lights, the floor button lights, and the emergency phone on and active to help ease your mind and keep you out of total blackness. 

The key to getting through a blackout is to control your panic and understand that you’ll be fine and help will be there soon. Many people assume that the air will run out if they wait for many hours, but elevators are not air-tight, and they are not even close. Elevators are designed for constant airflow, with fresh air circulating constantly. Some employ heat and air conditioning to make further a traveler’s short trip as pleasant as possible. 

The idea that you’ll die from lack of air is a myth, and once you realize that, your anxiety should subside. Another fact that may also ease your panicked mind if trapped with no power is that many modern elevators may immediately lower you to the ground floor when a power failure is detected, so your time to worry will be incredibly short. 

Understanding Our Limitations

Elevators can save time and muscle ache, especially when traveling up a dozen or more floors, but you need to be aware of all its possible drawbacks. From phobias to physical attacks from other riders to natural and manmade emergencies, your safety can be in jeopardy when those doors close in front of you. But rest assured that these negatives are very few and far between and are not everyday occurrences.  The odds of dying in an elevator are about one in ten million, so take a breath, relax, and enjoy the ride.