| Joannie works in a large metropolitan office building. | | | | but her voice was not loud enough. She was in pain. |
| She is thoroughly familiar with building layout. The | | | | She knew it would be hours before anyone would |
| building has several elevators. It also has many flights | | | | use those stairs. The thought of lying there for hours |
| of stairs for emergencies and for those brave | | | | in pain frightened her. |
| enough to use them. The building is well maintained | | | | She started thinking of ways to get someones |
| and in fact has been commended for its cleanliness | | | | attention. She took some objects from her purse |
| and beauty. | | | | and started throwing them against the metal door to |
| Joannie works on one of the top floors in the building. | | | | make a sound. An hour had passed and still no one |
| She rarely uses the stairs. The majority of the time | | | | came to help. She was starting to run out of ideas. |
| she waits for the elevator. One day she was on her | | | | As it happens, the maintenance crew was coming on |
| way to work. She entered the building and pressed | | | | duty. One of their assignments today was to take |
| the elevator button. She waited for a while but | | | | care of the stairway. |
| nothing happened. She pressed it again. | | | | One of the guys wanted to know how much work |
| At that time, a guy in the lobby informed her that | | | | he had to do on the stairway. He went to take a |
| the elevators were malfunctioning. He said that | | | | quick look at the stairway. He opened the door and |
| maintenance was working on them, so they maybe | | | | there was Joannie lying there almost in shock from |
| slow. She thought today of all days, I have a | | | | the pain. He quickly reported the emergency and |
| meeting to attend. I am going to be late if I do not | | | | Joannie was rushed to the hospital. It turns out, she |
| leave now. Against her better judgment, she decided | | | | had damaged some internal organs and broken her |
| to take the stairs to the next level and take the | | | | ankle. |
| elevator from there. | | | | Emergency workers say she could have died if she |
| She entered the stair room and started to walk up | | | | had not been found. She has since fully recovered. |
| the stairs. It was a long way up each flight of stairs. | | | | She never forgets that day. She has been a major |
| About half way up, she stopped to adjust her shoe. | | | | force behind new safety implementations in the |
| She slipped and went tumbling down to the bottom | | | | company. |
| of the stairs. She landed a few yards from the | | | | You never know when an emergency may arise. |
| entrance door. She felt and awful pain in her ankle | | | | Being able to let some one know where you are if |
| and could not walk. All she could think about was | | | | trapped or in danger can save your life. Do not |
| getting out of there. | | | | depend entirely on your cell phone. Have a personal |
| She pulled out her cell phone and tried to dial for help. | | | | safety and self defense strategy in mind. |
| The transmission was blocked. She screamed for help | | | | |