Ensuring Child and Pet Safety around a Residential Elevator

 

Residential elevators are growing in popularity, not just among those with reduced mobility, but for general convenience and accessibility. Whether you’re considering a residential elevator for mobility issues or just for the convenience of having one, you may be hesitating to purchase one if you have safety concerns—especially if you have kids or pets in the home. How can you keep them safe around an elevator in the house? Keep reading to find out.

Supervision is Key

Always supervise children and pets when they’re near the elevator. Kids may be curious and tempted to play with the buttons or try to ride the elevator unsupervised. Pets, especially small ones, might wander into the elevator unnoticed. Keeping a watchful eye on the elevator area can prevent unfortunate accidents.

Install Safety Features

Modern residential elevators come with a lot of excellent safety features that you should make sure are included in any model you’re considering. Look specifically for child-proof locks and pet-friendly sensors. Features like these could prevent the elevator from operating if a kid or a pet is detected near the door or inside the elevator.

Educate Your Family

Educate your family members—and not just your children—about the dangers of playing around the elevator. Explaining to kids the importance of not using the elevator without an adult and not allowing pets to enter the elevator alone. Regularly remind them of these safety features, especially if they seem to be pushing the boundaries you initially set with them.

Use Barriers

For homes with pets and kids, installing barriers or gates around the elevator entrance to prevent unsupervised access. This is something you might want to keep in mind when installing the elevator in the first place; make sure it’s installed somewhere that putting up a baby gate or other barrier is easier, and avoid open areas that make barricades impossible.

Emergency Preparedness

Just as you’d prepare your children for how to react to a house fire or other home emergency, you should make sure they know what to do in an emergency situation involving the elevator. Show them how to use the emergency phone or alarm button inside the elevator. You should also create an emergency plan that includes steps to take if a pet is trapped in the elevator.

In general, residential elevators are safe for the entire family to use. With proper education and a few additional safety measures, your kids and pets can live around and even use the elevator themselves without any danger. Just make sure to discuss your safety concerns with your installer when you’re planning out your residential elevator installation in Louisiana.