Unauthorized at Track Level

Unauthorized individuals at track level are both a danger to themselves and to others. Their intention may vary from: being stupid, impaired, a peer dare, mental health issues, or something more sinister. A First Responder has only one main objective and that is to get them safely off the track. 

What I would do:

Upon arriving at the scene, I would immediately request everybody to leave the platform area because bodies can splatter on impact and the trauma would last a lifetime. Then I would approach and kindly ask that the unauthorized person leave track level for their own safety. Watching for oncoming subways, I would also have my flashlight ready to signal a train to STOP! Even without a flashlight, subway operators are trained to be on the lookout for someone flailing their arms as a warning of distress. They will stop, but only if they see you...do not assume that until the train has actually stopped. 

Cut the power to the 3rd rail using the emergency power cut button usually located at each end of the subway platform. Once the power is cut one must ALWAYS presume that the 3rd rail is still live with electricity. I have personal experiences where I was told the power is cut, yet when tested the 3rd rail was still live. Respect it at all times!

Using either my radio or the phone located by the power cut button, I would notify Transit Control of this. 

Due to lag time of information being relayed from Control to the subway operators, always presume that the operator is unaware of what is happening. 

NEVER extend your arm to pull the person directly to the platform. By mishap, you could end up at track level too, or worse yet, they could intentionally pull you down there. People with mental health issues can be extremely unpredictable. ALWAYS direct the person away from oncoming trains to the stairwell at the end of the platform. This will give a subway operator more time to see this person in a well lit station and stop. 

If a train is approaching and does not immediately stop then instruct the person to either crawl under the lip of the subway platform where there is a little extra space or lie down as flat as possible between the train tracks. Do not mistake the 3rd rail for a train track because it can kill. 

For your own protection, make sure you stand on the platform between them and the train due to the possibility of impact and splatter...it sounds awful, but it would be worse to have the impact results on you. 

There is a small clearance space between the bottom of the train and the space between the tracks, but use this technique only as a last resort. It is preferred to have them get back to the platform level on their own accord...again, if possible. 

If the person complies and returns to the safety of the platform...stay with them until the professionals arrive. An individual with mental heath issues can easily return to track level. 

Keep Control informed as best you can about what is happening because they are the one's that restore the subway back into regular operation. 

Now you have a story to tell...