MTA Emergency Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A transit officer arrives at the scene of a person collapsed on the subway platform. The person is unresponsive and not breathing. What is the FIRST action the officer should take?
- Call for backup before touching the victim
- Begin chest compressions immediately (Correct answer)
- Check for a pulse for at least 30 seconds
- Retrieve the AED from the platform wall
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions immediately
For an unresponsive adult not breathing, immediate chest compressions are the first priority in CPR protocol.
Question 2: During a bomb threat on a subway train, an officer locates a suspicious unattended package. What is the correct protocol?
- Open the package to determine if it is a real threat
- Evacuate the area and notify the bomb squad (Correct answer)
- Move the package to a less populated area
- Cover the package with a jacket to contain any blast
Correct answer: Evacuate the area and notify the bomb squad
Officers must never touch or move a suspicious package but should evacuate the area and contact the bomb disposal unit.
Question 3: A transit officer witnesses a fight between two passengers that results in one person being stabbed. After securing the scene, what is the officer's next priority?
- Interview witnesses before any other action
- Document injuries with a department camera
- Render first aid to the stabbing victim (Correct answer)
- Pursue the fleeing suspect immediately
Correct answer: Render first aid to the stabbing victim
After scene security, rendering first aid to an injured victim takes priority over witness interviews or pursuit.
Question 4: An officer responds to a report of smoke on a subway car. Upon arrival, passengers are coughing but there is no visible fire. What should the officer do FIRST?
- Search the entire train before ordering an evacuation
- Order evacuation of that car and adjacent cars (Correct answer)
- Wait for the fire department before taking any action
- Pull the emergency brake and remain on the train
Correct answer: Order evacuation of that car and adjacent cars
Visible smoke is a life-safety hazard requiring immediate evacuation of the affected area while awaiting fire department response.
Question 5: A transit officer is notified of a person on the tracks in an active subway tunnel. What is the MOST important immediate action?
- Enter the tunnel and physically guide the person out
- Notify the train control center to halt train movement (Correct answer)
- Announce a general alert over the platform PA system
- Wait at the tunnel entrance until supervisors arrive
Correct answer: Notify the train control center to halt train movement
Notifying train control to halt all train movement is the top priority to prevent a train strike.
Question 6: During a mass casualty incident at a transit hub, the START triage system color 'RED' indicates which type of patient?
- Deceased or unsurvivable injury
- Minor injuries who can wait for care
- Immediate life-threatening but survivable injuries (Correct answer)
- Delayed — serious but not immediately life-threatening
Correct answer: Immediate life-threatening but survivable injuries
In START triage, RED (immediate) designates patients with life-threatening but survivable injuries who need treatment within 60 minutes.
Question 7: A passenger approaches an officer and states that they witnessed someone leave a backpack behind and run from the station. The officer should FIRST:
- Reassure the passenger and continue patrol
- Immediately pick up the backpack and check the contents
- Secure a perimeter around the backpack and notify supervisors (Correct answer)
- Ask the passenger to point out the backpack, then move it outside
Correct answer: Secure a perimeter around the backpack and notify supervisors
An abandoned bag with a fleeing suspect warrants establishing a safe perimeter and alerting supervisors and specialized units.
MTA Emergency Response 2
A transit officer arrives at the scene of a person collapsed on the subway platform.
The person is unresponsive and not breathing.
What is the FIRST action the officer should take?