Problem
You are lost or sick or need to help somebody else on a station or train. What do you do?
A surprising amount of help is available, even when you can't see anybody nearby. When I get onto a train, or sit in a train at a station looking out at the station walls, I often look at the advice and help in case I ever need them.
London Underground Help
On the walls of London underground station, you will see help machines on the walls.
On the suburban station, South Ruislip, which has a dauntingly long staircase, I was surprised to notice, for the first time, that a stretcher is affixed to the wall.
I recently noticed what I presume are new signs, telling you, in effect, that pulling an emergency alarm to stop the train is no much help when you are between stations, since you want to get to the next station for help, not be stuck in the countryside in the middle of nowhere. What you need is to communicate your problem, not stop the train in a tunnel.
Help in Wales
On the Great Western Railway (GWR) trains from Paddington, London, to Wales Cardiff and Swansea in Wales, the signs on the inside of the train carriages are in Welsh and English. I take a photo of them before I sit down. Once you are seated, sometimes the signs are on the other side of the carriage, aobscuredued as soon as somebody sits down blocking your view. Then I can read the instructions on my phone and enlarge the print and read at leisure without craning my neck.
Help In Europe
Put the local emergency number in your local phone.
In Romania I noticed that the local number for an ambulance was 112. You should also have in your phone - all your phones if you get a new one, the numbers for calling your insurance company.
Help in Singapore
In Singapore when you are on a platform waiting for the next train, videos run overhead continuously with assorted instructions. One demonstrates how to speak to the control room when you have a problem, whether you are in a wheelchair, lost, see a suspicious object, whatever.
Signs on the walls show you how to get out of the station in an emergency or breakdown or transport, and where to go to board alternative transport to get home or continue your journey.
In transport as in everything else, events and facilities rollercoaster. The personal help is taken away and replaced by signs and machines. Then the availability of personal help returns.
When you have major events such as football matches, rock concerts, St Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve, or security threats, the police, ambulance, and direction services magically appear to help you on your way.
Help In Your Own Car
See my other posts on safety and security and a device for cutting seatbelts.
If you travel frequently, it saves time and money to have an annual travel insurance. Some items may be covered on your home insurance. If you forget to buy travel insrance and make a sudden trip, you might be able to buy short-term insurance at the airport.
Check what your business travel insurance covers. Often you are not covered for certain sports, or for luggage which is not within sight.
Be wary of any stranger who says they will watch your luggage. They might get called away, distracted, you might not be able to find them again, it could be a ploy.
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1650297/3-pregnant-woman-fined-walking-wrong-way-paris-metro/
https://www.thelocal.fr/20150529/how-to-avoid-getting-robbed-on-the-paris-metro
Pick pocket proof clothing:
clothingarts.com
visitbritainshop.com
tfl.gov.uk
tfl.gov.uk/emailupdates
tfl.gov.uk/socialmedia (Facebook; Twitter; YouTube)
www.londontravelwatch.org.uk
tfl.gov.uk/trafficnews
TFL announcements:
tfl.gov.uk/news
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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