NCJ Number
207863
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 52 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 144-147
Editor(s)
Ed Sanow
Date Published
October 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article provides a brief outline of the Evacuation from Commuter Equipment program designed for first responders involved in a train accident.
Abstract
Even though most law enforcement jurisdictions have trains running through them, little is known about these large moving machines, and when an incident involving a train occurs, law enforcement officers are usually the first responders, arriving ill-prepared. This article describes a program developed in Illinois to help first responders entitled, Evacuation from Commuter Equipment. Just as first responders arrive on the scene of an auto accident and assess and prioritize the situation, the procedure is the same for a train incident, however, the numbers are larger. An accurate assessment of the incident is critical. It is necessary to determine if it is a commuter train or a freight train. The approach used will be determined by the type of train. Once the initial assessment is made and it is assured that all other trains have been stopped, a crewmember should be found to guide you through when entering the coach. Steps are presented when entering a coach or train car and include: entering through the main doors of an adjacent coach, entering through the emergency entry windows, or entering through the main entry doors at the center of the passenger coach.