MTA Emergency Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer responds to a report of a chemical smell on a subway platform. Passengers are experiencing eye irritation and difficulty breathing. Which action is MOST appropriate?
- Attempt to identify the chemical by smell before evacuating
- Evacuate the platform and request a hazmat response (Correct answer)
- Ventilate the platform by opening emergency doors only
- Advise passengers to cover their faces and remain in place
Correct answer: Evacuate the platform and request a hazmat response
Symptoms suggesting chemical exposure require immediate evacuation and activation of hazmat protocols.
Question 2: A transit officer is the first to arrive at a multi-vehicle accident inside a bus terminal. No other units have arrived yet. What is the officer's FIRST responsibility?
- Begin detailed documentation of the scene
- Assess scene safety and call for additional resources (Correct answer)
- Conduct field sobriety tests on the drivers
- Direct all bystanders to give written statements
Correct answer: Assess scene safety and call for additional resources
Scene safety assessment and requesting appropriate resources are the first priorities for the first-arriving officer at any major incident.
Question 3: During an emergency evacuation of a subway tunnel, an officer discovers a passenger in a wheelchair who cannot self-evacuate. The officer should:
- Leave the passenger and return with specialized equipment
- Carry the passenger out using emergency evacuation techniques (Correct answer)
- Advise the passenger to remain in place until help arrives
- Instruct the passenger to use the third rail as a handhold
Correct answer: Carry the passenger out using emergency evacuation techniques
When immediate danger exists, officers must assist mobility-impaired individuals using available evacuation techniques rather than leaving them behind.
Question 4: A violent altercation breaks out between two groups of passengers on a bus. When approaching the situation, an officer's FIRST priority should be:
- Identify and arrest the primary aggressor immediately
- Request backup and assess the situation before intervening (Correct answer)
- Draw a firearm to establish authority over the group
- Order the bus driver to call dispatch for more officers
Correct answer: Request backup and assess the situation before intervening
Requesting backup and assessing the situation prevents an officer from being overwhelmed by multiple combatants and ensures a safe intervention.
Question 5: What does the acronym 'PASS' refer to in emergency response for transit officers?
- Patrol, Assess, Secure, Search
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep — fire extinguisher operation (Correct answer)
- Protect, Alert, Stabilize, Support
- Perimeter, Advise, Stage, Standby
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep — fire extinguisher operation
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side — the proper technique for using a fire extinguisher.
Question 6: An officer notices a passenger on the platform exhibiting signs of a seizure. The passenger is on the ground and convulsing. The CORRECT response is to:
- Restrain the passenger's limbs to prevent injury
- Insert an object into the passenger's mouth to protect their tongue
- Clear the area around the passenger and time the seizure (Correct answer)
- Immediately begin chest compressions
Correct answer: Clear the area around the passenger and time the seizure
During a seizure, officers should clear the surrounding area of hazards, protect the person's head, and time the duration — never restrain or insert anything in the mouth.
Question 7: A transit officer receives a radio call about a jumper threatening to leap from an elevated train platform. The BEST initial approach is:
- Rush the individual to prevent the jump
- Establish communication and build rapport to delay action (Correct answer)
- Announce loudly that police have arrived and order compliance
- Immediately notify media to help document the situation
Correct answer: Establish communication and build rapport to delay action
Crisis intervention best practices call for calm communication and rapport-building to de-escalate suicidal situations and buy time for specialized negotiators.
MTA Emergency Response 3
An officer responds to a report of a chemical smell on a subway platform.
Passengers are experiencing eye irritation and difficulty breathing.
Which action is MOST appropriate?