Unsuck DC Metro: Another Low for Metro Employees

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Another Low for Metro Employees

Via Facebook:

I was on the Orange Line yesterday morning when a man sitting close to me suffered a series of seizures while the train was at Federal Triangle.

I was completely shocked by what seemed to be complete incompetence and bad attitude from Metro employees!

Passengers were attending to the man and calling 911, while Metro employees were just walking around aimlessly, in no rush to assist.

After what seemed to be about 10-15 minutes, I asked whether they alerted paramedics, and the response was “if they get here, they get here. If they don’t, they don’t.”

I’m disgusted of the lack of professionalism, but more so by the lack of sympathy towards a suffering human being.

Orange Line train at Federal Triangle experiencing a sick customer. Trains single-tracking Fed Triangle-Farragut W. 9:08a #wmata
— @wmata (@wmata) November 28, 2012

Other items:
Two takes on the FTA safety audit: Examiner and WaPo
Traffic woes will linger for decades (Examiner)

Comments (44)

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+11 Vote up Vote down

Jeff · 641 weeks ago

I'm shocked. Not.

+20 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 641 weeks ago

I have stopped giving these people my money. I suggest everyone look for any way you can possibly do the same, even if it's just teleworking a day, walking, riding a bike, carpooling taking a cab. Whatever you're capable of--and I fully realize these are not options for all.

The only way to change Metro is to hit them in the wallet.

5 replies · active 641 weeks ago

+13 Vote up Vote down

Ever n Anon · 641 weeks ago

Nice idea but some of us do not have that option.

+8 Vote up Vote down

Anon 2 · 641 weeks ago

Amen to that. And my boss is heavily anti-telework.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 641 weeks ago

It doesn't even matter. They can just raise rates indefinitely. Federal employees don't personally pay for transit, and the federal government never protests fare hikes. Since federal employees are a plurality of Metro riders, unless the federal government stops being willing to pay ever-increasing fares, nothing will ever change.

+8 Vote up Vote down

PeeWee · 641 weeks ago

I am a federal employee and I personally end up paying about $150 when my subsidy runs out.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 641 weeks ago

The federal government subsidy is capped at well below the cost of a normal commute. When fares goes up, the subsidy stays stagnant. Your claim that the federal government is willing to pay the ever-increasing fares is moot. They are not.

+18 Vote up Vote down

Ryan · 641 weeks ago

I was on a yellow line train once where a man had a seizure. Passengers stopped what they were doing to make sure he was alright, and Metro employees were actually quick to respond. They had him off the train and within medical care in a matter of minutes. Metro's leadership really should be ashamed that Metro customer service has a range from acceptable to suck ass.

+7 Vote up Vote down

dcn8v · 641 weeks ago

Does anyone know whether WMATA employees receive first aid/CPR/AED training? Seems like they should all get it, given the large public population they encounter on a daily basis.

8 replies · active 641 weeks ago

+9 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 641 weeks ago

The union probably prevents them from getting emergency medical training. That's not their job! Their job is to sit in a booth, text on their phones and harass women in the station!

+10 Vote up Vote down

n2deep · 641 weeks ago

we used to receive first aid/ CPR training. but to be perfectly honest. i would not touch anyone who is unconscious. i will call for immediate medical help but know better than to touch anyone. i am not about to be sued for what i may or may not have done. we do not fall under any good samaritan policy. and i truly believe metro would stand behind me if i was to be sued.
seen way too much in my time here to believe that trying to be helpful will go unpunished.

+2 Vote up Vote down

dcn8v · 641 weeks ago

Thanks for replying. What's the reason that you wouldn't fall under the Good Samaritan law? I agree that it's not likely that Metro would stand behind you if you're sued... Would the union?

+7 Vote up Vote down

n2deep · 641 weeks ago

we have asked about it several times over the years. no one will give an answer. the transit officers i have spoken to have "advised" not to touch anyone. so a bunch of definite maybes equals "NO" to me.
and I have not asked the union for anything in well over 30 years. they are way too busy helping those who do not deserve to be helped.

+3 Vote up Vote down

certifried 88p · 641 weeks ago

thank you for your reply! It's nice to see employees that care. Riders see FAR too few. Again, thank you!

0 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 641 weeks ago

Teenagers who get summer jobs as lifeguards have to be certified in first aid and CPR. I don't see why responsible adults who are hired by Metro can't do the same.

+1 Vote up Vote down

n2deep · 641 weeks ago

a lifeguard pulling someone from the water and using cpr to revive them falls under good samaritan laws. it is implied that if you swim here this person is there to watch and protect you. it is their job, same as a fireman or police officer. i believe they call it "duty to rescue".
i am a mechanic, i have no such "duty to rescue" status.

0 Vote up Vote down

@Hell_on_wheelz · 641 weeks ago

Metro Access drivers are specifically NOT given first aid training. SOP says drivers must call 911 and DO NOTHING. If you live long enough for EMTs to get on-scene, it will be because of you are made of sterner stuff.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Vienna Bound · 641 weeks ago

OT - I tune so much of Metro's "noise" on my daily commutes, that I just realized today that the door chimes coupled with the "doors closing" automated announcement is gone. When did that go away?

3 replies · active 641 weeks ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

Red Liner · 641 weeks ago

It didn't. Probably some issue with the car you were in.

+2 Vote up Vote down

SammyDC · 641 weeks ago

I've noticed that too lately. Not all the time; it's random cars and random trains.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 641 weeks ago

They probably siwtching it to Spanish and haven't gotten the new message ready yet.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Matt G · 641 weeks ago

I'm not endorsing the employees standing around and gawking, but the best thing you can do for someone having a seizure is stand back and let it run its course after you've removed anything near them that they could bump into. On a railcar, there isn't much that's movable.

1 reply · active 641 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 641 weeks ago

Actually what you should do is find out from the people traveling with them if the person is prone to them. If they are someone should still stay with them but if not, or you do not know, it should certainly be treated as a medical emergency.

For my latest 2 seizures I happened to be home and only got an ambulance ride once when I managed to wound myself during it. You can not pick when a seizure will take place and who will be around though.

-5 Vote up Vote down

John · 641 weeks ago

Hey, SPATAPS!

Do you know why these Metro employees didn't give a CRAP about this guy having a seizure? Even though he could have died? Its because the UNION at Metro makes it impossible for these people to have any repercussions! So they don't give a crap, even when someone's life is in danger!

Next time you should get your facts straight before you spout off pages of nonsense acting like a god damn know-it-all. Take your comparing everything to Rush Limbaugh routine somewhere else. You don't know a damn thing about the problems with metro!

5 replies · active 641 weeks ago

+7 Vote up Vote down

Hal · 641 weeks ago

chill, bro

+3 Vote up Vote down

A chill bro · 641 weeks ago

Bro def needs to chill

+4 Vote up Vote down

John · 641 weeks ago

Thats what the one metro employee said to the other when they were deciding not to help the guy with the seizure...

+2 Vote up Vote down

A chill bro · 641 weeks ago

LOL

+1 Vote up Vote down

John · 641 weeks ago

Didn't really realize there was such a fan club for that douche monger spataps...

-12 Vote up Vote down

hrh king friday 13 · 641 weeks ago

People having seizures on Metro are like (insert name of radical conservative pundit here). Unions are good. Bike lanes.

1 reply · active 641 weeks ago

-3 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 641 weeks ago

and dog parks!

+4 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 641 weeks ago

Yes the employees should have been doing something. If the person has a seizure condition it may not be an emergency but you should assume it is one unless the people with them tell you it is not. Also when it goes on an extended period of time (like more than 5 minutes, after all the person may not be breathing) if EMTs have not been called it is pure incompetence.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 641 weeks ago

A little confused here, the post mentioned that passengers had called 911. How would the WMATA employees know what is going on with EMS? That being said, all the employee should have said is that EMS had been called. As quoted, it does come across as callous.

On assisting, if the employees do not have training, they honestly have no business providing any sort of aid. This is the same things that cops do when they don't have appropriate medical training...they secure the scene and wait for Fire or EMS. If you don't know what you are doing you can kill or injury a person . EMTs or paramedics are trained to evaluate the situation, know whether C-spine precautions need to be employed etc.

+11 Vote up Vote down

Dan Stessel · 641 weeks ago

Today, our dedicated employees heroically rescued a customer that was experiencing a medical emergency on board one of our on-time, clean, and world class trains.

+14 Vote up Vote down

Stan Dessel · 641 weeks ago

These employees are part of a troupe of method actors we've hired. They were merely adding tension to an already tense situation so that you'd remember your ride.

You're welcome!

1 reply · active 641 weeks ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

Joolz · 641 weeks ago

Actually, thinking of these Metro employees as skilled method actors may be a good coping mechanism for those unfortunate enough to encounter them and their near-sociopathic lack of empathy and people skills.

+11 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 641 weeks ago

Rule #1: never bark at customers. NEVER.

+15 Vote up Vote down

@JaundiceJames · 641 weeks ago

Nametags. Metro employees need nametags. The OP should have been able to say, "Glen and Sue were just walking around aimlessly, in no rush to assist."

Even if Metro doesn't discipline their people, maybe we can SHAME people into acting right.

2 replies · active 641 weeks ago

+4 Vote up Vote down

Bob · 641 weeks ago

You can barely get them to put the station manager's partial name in the window. And the incompetent losers that you would want to report by name would:
A) Not wear their name tag, with no disciplinary repercussions
B) Intentionally put a different name on the tag
C) Accidentally spell their name wrong

+4 Vote up Vote down

dcn8v · 641 weeks ago

I actually think the nametag idea has merit. I agree with Bob's point- there will always be people who work their hardest to skirt the system. But if you take away the anonymity and enforce some dress standards, which is not unreasonable, it automatically raises the level of accountability. Whether or not that accountability brings about any repercussions? That I'm not so sure would ever happen. But no bad thing could come from making Metro employees less anonymous.

+3 Vote up Vote down

UnSuck Fan · 641 weeks ago

No pulse, no feelings, no heartbeat because no heart. Yeah, that's Metro all right!

0 Vote up Vote down

Charles · 641 weeks ago

The passengers who called 911 should have called the Washington Post or a local TV station next. Then Metro would be forced to come up with some kind of bullshit excuse for this.

1 reply · active 641 weeks ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 641 weeks ago

Washington Post, right. I'm sure Dr. Gridlock would publish a scathing column about Metro's incompetence!

0 Vote up Vote down

swelling causes · 615 weeks ago

The partnership probably stops them from getting urgent healthcare training. That's not their job! Their job is to sit in a unit, written text on their mobile phones and frighten females in the station!