In separate incidents, two people fell on subway tracks today
John Stephen Dwyer reports on an incident at the Back Bay Orange Line stop around 2:30 p.m.:
White male, late 20s-early 30s was acting delirious and bumped into me on the Orange Line platform. A few minutes later, I heard a noise and soon saw he'd fallen on the Outbound tracks. At least two men jumped down before I arrived; I helped them get him back on the platform and then I helped the older of the rescuers back onto the platform. He had stopped to retrieve the fallen man's phone and a bag. The man who had fallen was badly bruised on his face and arm. He wasn't moving and I asked if anyone had Narcan. He said he wasn't on opiates and was responsive from that point on. Several people remained with him until a T inspector arrived. I left shortly after.
He adds:
You might think this sort of thing would give you an adrenaline rush, but the train platform is hot like a sauna and mostly I just want to get home and put on some dry clothes. Blech.
Around 1:20 p.m., meanwhile, somebody apparently nodded out and then plunged to the Red Line tracks on the Braintree side of JFK/UMass. Firefighters got the person up to the platform for care.
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Comments
I've seen people on the Red
I've seen people on the Red Line at Park St, who I believe were in a heroin stuper, stumbling around perilously close to the edge of the platform.
Just A Reminder — Not Every Delirious Person Is On Opioids
Yes, it's quite reasonable to assume it might an overdose, but also keep in mind there are many other reasons people become incoherent and pass out. A diabetic in insulin shock, for example. Moreover, on a hot day like today, something like that can happen to anyone.
It's nice to know there are people like Stephen, who will do what they can to help. I'm sorry he didn't get to enjoy an adrenaline rush, but the goodness in his heart is not just a transient moment — it's much more endurable, and precious!
If they’re able to breathe adequately...
Then they don’t need narcan.
Hot times in the subway
One item that always has me confused about these heroic stories about passengers risking their lives. The line about waiting for the Transit Police and inspectors to arrive. Shouldn't they be there on scene since they work there?
It's a big system
T workers aren't everywhere all at once.
But they really should have
But they really should have employees at the major stations.
Sure, don't expect an employee on site at every station. But Back Bay? JFK? Those are pretty major multimodal stations that really ought to have on-site staff.
They do
But they are upstairs around the fare entry areas and "customer service" booths and not on the platform.
Correct.
And, again, anyone can fall anytime from anywhere on a platform. Just because a T employee is manning the platform, does not mean they will be able to prevent anything.
Know what they can prevent?
Incoming trains.
Cameras everywhere
and there are people scanning and watching them real time. I've heard them admonish people from standing too close to the pit or smoking,etc.