WASHINGTON — Metro is out with a new safety video that the agency believes will prepare customers for an emergency due to smoke or fire, similar to the Jan. 12 incident at L’Enfant Plaza.
The one minute video shows customers how to find the intercom to communicate with the train operator and how to release the emergency doors with the latch in the middle of the train cars. It also emphasizes that passengers should not self-evacuate except as a last resort.
“This is like our version of an airline safety video,” says Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik.
“It’s a quick minute and it’s useful information when all the chaos is happening on what to do,” he adds.
The videos, available in English and Spanish, will be aired on television stations next week.
“The reality is that when that emergency hits, you’re likely to react at the moment. You may or may draw back on that video. For the people that are able to take control of themselves and move themselves forward, they’ll remember what the video teaches them to do,” says Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor.
Board members expressed interest in getting a hard copy of the public service announcements to run on local county or city television stations.
“Hopefully the next time you board the train, you notice where the intercom is, you notice where the emergency door release is. Maybe that’s something you didn’t notice before,” says Lynn Bowersox, Metro Assistant General Manager for Customer Service.
