WASHINGTON — While there appears to be little passengers on Amtrak 188 could have done before the deadly derailment Tuesday night, local first responders and transit agencies say there are things passengers can do to contribute to the best possible outcome in more minor incidents.
Montgomery County Fire’s Pete Piringer and brochures from transit agencies like VRE suggest passengers read and familiarize themselves with all emergency signs and instructions about emergency exit operations and how to communicate with crew members in the event of an emergency.
“Be aware of your environment, be aware of your surroundings,” Piringer says.
“If you are traveling, know generally where you are, so in the event that you do call 911, you can relay that information,” he adds, saying that would apply on Metro, MARC, VRE, Amtrak or any other system.
Prince George’s County Fire’s Mark Brady suggests making sure all baggage and packages are not just tossed on overhead racks, but secured there. He says many injuries are caused by flying baggage or other debris.
Piringer says it is also important to keep aisles clear.
He emphasises that staying on the train is often the safest option in an emergency, and that if riders do need to evacuate, emergency doors should be the first choice. He says the drop from an emergency exit window can be 10 feet or more.
“One good rule of thumb is count the number of rows to and from the nearest exit, so in the event that the power goes out, the lights are out, or it’s dark, you kind of know your way to the nearest exit,” Piringer suggests.
He says each situation must be treated on a case-by-case basis, ideally by the train operator or crew, to determine whether the risk of evacuating from the train outweighs the risk of remaining on board.
