What would you do if you fell onto the “L” tracks? What is the procedure if your train or bus catches on fire?
And what happens if a rider goes into labor in the subway?
These are just a few questions that were raised by readers after a recent “Going Public” column that set up a series of “Worst-case CTA Scenarios.”
In response to readers asking for more insights on emergency procedures and safety issues on the “L” and buses, RedEye got the scoop on what to do if you find yourself in a scary CTA situation.
What if you fall from the platform onto the ‘L’ tracks?
It is very rare that a rider falls on the tracks, CTA spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said, pointing out that most riders are “safety cautious and take care when on the platforms.” To demonstrate where you should stand while waiting for your train, the transit agency has added a bright blue, raised edge on the majority of platforms that you are not to walk beyond, which especially helps the seeing impaired, Ziegler said.
But if you somehow end up on the tracks, the key is to avoid the third rail, which pumps out 600 volts of electricity. One touch can electrocute you–and potentially kill.
The third rail–the tallest of the three rails along the track–is located the farthest away from the platform for customer safety, Ziegler said.
Her advice for fallen riders:
“They should immediately return to the platform without touching any rails if they are able to do so,” Ziegler advised. “Otherwise, the customer should remain calm and ask for assistance so CTA personnel can immediately have power removed to the track and assist the customer back onto the platform.”
What should you do if your bus catches on fire?
If you smell smoke or see even a flicker of fire, you should tell the bus driver, Ziegler said.
Buses, trains and stations are equipped with fire extinguishers, and CTA operators are trained to handle a fire emergency, Ziegler said. Most emergency fires are small and can be extinguished. If that fails, the bus driver or rail operator will coordinate with the CTA control center to determine the best course of action.
Riders are encouraged to listen to instructions by CTA personnel on the scene, and will likely be escorted to a safe location, Ziegler said.
Should you enter a station if it has lost power?
Navigating dark CTA stations may seem like a risky proposition, but in most cases the facilities are equipped with emergency backup generators making it safe for riders to enter and board trains, Ziegler said.
“CTA rail stations are primarily powered through an alternating current power supply system provided by Commonwealth Edison,” Ziegler said. “The AC power provides electricity for the lights, fare control equipment and other amenities at the stations.”
Customer assistants also have battery-operated lights and can direct customers, Ziegler said, adding that it is rare for a station to experience a complete power failure.
If there is such a power failure, customer assistants should lead riders out of the stations, and the CTA would provide a bus shuttle to the nearest open “L” station, Ziegler said.
What do you do if someone goes into labor or has a heart attack while riding the subway?
Riders in the car can press the intercom and alert the “L” operator who will then radio the CTA Control Center, according to Ziegler.
“Customers should identify the number of the rail car where emergency assistance is needed and describe the situation at hand,” Ziegler said.
The Control Center will contact paramedics, typically directing them to the next rail station where they will wait for the train to arrive and provide medical attention.
Does the CTA train its staff to deal with any kind of medical emergencies? Is there first aid equipment in stations or on buses and trains?
The CTA does not train its staffers in first aid techniques, and there are no first aid kits or defibrillators for use in case of a heart attack, Ziegler said.
That news surprised Jason Howard, 23, who takes the Red Line every day.
“I just assumed that there would be [first aid equipment] because the CTA deals with the public,” Howard, who lives in Lakeview, told RedEye. “It seems like that would be part of their job to protect the public.”
Ziegler said CTA workers are trained on how to effectively report emergencies so paramedics can report to the scene and provide any needed care.
What should ‘L’ riders do if the doors pop open while the train is in motion?
Ziegler said that train doors rarely open unless the “L” has reached its stop, but several riders wrote to RedEye about doors opening unexpectedly in the subway and on “L” tracks.
“It was morning rush on the Brown Line, just outside of Belmont waiting for signals, when suddenly one of the outside doors opened,” rider Mark Robinson wrote in an e-mail to RedEye. Robinson, 47, called the incident the “scariest thing that’s ever happened” to him on the CTA and noted: “It’s at least a 20 foot drop to the sidewalk below.”
Ziegler said train doors opening between stops can be due to mechanical or operational errors, but also can be caused by riders pulling the emergency door release to stop the train.
Riders in the affected car should immediately press the intercom and notify the operator, but the operator car also features an indicator light that lets an operator know doors are open.
The operator will then close the doors or contact the CTA control center to recommend the next steps or take the train out of service if the problem continues.
But most importantly, Ziegler said, riders should stand clear of the doors at all times–whether they are open or shut.
What if you are onboard a bus or train and feel that the operator is driving erratically or at unsafe speeds?
If you’re on a bus or “L” and feel unsafe for whatever reason, get off and report the incident through the CTA customer help line at 1-888-YOUR-CTA, Ziegler advised. She added that bus and rail operators have to go through rigorous training to work on the CTA and are required to be re-certified every two years.
What should you do if you are the victim of, or witness, an attack at a CTA bus stop or on a platform? Is surveillance available in these areas to prevent or help investigate crimes?
CTA bus shelters, unlike CTA buses, are not equipped with CTA security cameras, Ziegler said. The majority of the shelters are owned by the city, Ziegler said. If you are attacked or witness an attack at a bus stop, Ziegler said to call 911.
As for platform security, the CTA has 326 security cameras at 26 rail stations and is planning to add cameras to another nine stations by the end of this year, Ziegler said. “L” riders on platforms who witness or are victims of a crime can use customer call buttons and telephones on station platforms to contact CTA personnel or 911, Ziegler said.
In terms of crime prevention, the CTA receives assistance from the Chicago Police Department’s public transportation department and contracts with a private security firm, Securitas, which uses guards and canine units to monitor stations, Ziegler said.
“Renovated stations have been equipped with brighter lighting to help deter crime,” Ziegler added.
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REDEYE ON THE SPOT
RedEye asked three CTA riders: Should the CTA have first aid kits and train personnel in first aid techniques?
“It’d be nice, and they should, but if they don’t, it won’t stop me from riding the trains. Nothing serious has happened while I’ve been riding.”
Nick Hudalla
[ 23, Lincoln Park ]“I just assumed that there would be because the CTA deals with the public. It seems like that would be part of their job to protect the public.”
Jason Howard
[ 23, Lakeview ]“Everybody takes the ‘L’ and the buses, and any place that deals with the public should have first aid kits around. I’m surprised that there aren’t any on trains, and I think it’s ridiculous.”
Heather Foster
[ 20, Lincoln Park ]The CTA adds up its accident rates
Still shaking at the prospect of stepping on the third rail or being in the back of a burning bus? The CTA said it works to prevent accidents, from the rare occasion of someone falling on “L” tracks to other incidents such as bus or train collisions, spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said.
The transit agency measures its accident rate per every 100,000 miles. On average, each bus and each rail car travels 100,000 miles over a period of approximately 21/2 years. Here are the most recent accident rates available for the entire CTA, which includes 1,190 rail cars and approximately 2,040 buses.
ACCIDENT RATE PER 100,000 MILES
BUSES
2004: 6.52
2003: 5.78
2002: 5.69
RAILS
2004: .17
2003: .17
2002: .10
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kkyles@tribune.com
TALK TO US
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