Inspector Sands; Emergency Message on the Underground

[detective-boy]

I am not sure what you should do if you spot a fire in a theatre though.

Raise the alarm by any appropriate means - set off an alarm, tell staff who can the use their contingency plans or shout "Fire".

The "Don't shout fire in a theatre" comes from a court case (US, I think) in which it was discussed, if I remember, in relation to free speech - would it be permissible for someone to shout "Fire" falsely in a crowded theatre. There is no reason why you shouldn't shout "Fire" if there is a fire and that is the only way of raising the alarm.

 

[starfish2000]

When I worked for a major high street retailer in the early 90's The Tannoy call for Mr Johnson, meant there was an emergency situation and every male member of staff should go to that area ASAP.

 

[quimcunx]

cleaner to the ticket office, code 1 means my ex has thrown up (considerately) into a plastic bag and brought it up here for disposal.

 

[bluestreak]

there was an old yippie slogan about fire...

"freedom is the right to shout THEATRE! in a crowded fire"

i used to think it was really profound.

*wanders off*

 

[Calva dosser]

I can remember the one for a simulated nuclear attack.

But not the one for a real nuclear attack. Probably because I never heard it.

It was, as always 'attack warning red imminent attack from the air' for those on duty, but the one that called out off duty staff? perhaps they were meant to fry?

 

[Pingu]

Raise the alarm by any appropriate means - set off an alarm, tell staff who can the use their contingency plans or shout "Fire".

The "Don't shout fire in a theatre" comes from a court case (US, I think) in which it was discussed, if I remember, in relation to free speech - would it be permissible for someone to shout "Fire" falsely in a crowded theatre. There is no reason why you shouldn't shout "Fire" if there is a fire and that is the only way of raising the alarm.

me I would calmly walk towards the exit.

slowly turn round

and then shout fire. thus ensuring that I wasnt trampled in the mass exodus.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

They say that you should never shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre. The reasoning goes that it will cause a panic. I am not sure what you should do if you spot a fire in a theatre though.

I can think of another good reason not to shout 'fire' in a public place. It is because so many children are carrying loaded firearms and it could result in a shoot-out.

I did hear of the story of a man in a chocolate factory who fell into a vat of hot chocolate. He yelled 'fire' and people rushed to his aid and got him out before he was harmed too much. Afterwards they asked him why he shouted 'fire'. He asked "Would you have come if I had shouted 'hot chocolate'?

I understand that the emergency alert on some ships is "Would the ship's carpenter report to the bridge". These days when ships are made almost exclusively of metal and plastics this must lead to some confused passengers.

I was told that if you were being attacked in the street, the best thing to shout was fire. If you shouted rape, or mugging, people would ignore you, but if you shout fire, they get worried about their own properties and take more notice

 

[vauxhallmum]

The code for a bomb scare in the theatre is 'Mr Jet is in the building'
Sleep easy

 

[detective-boy]

me I would calmly walk towards the exit.

slowly turn round

and then shout fire. thus ensuring that I wasnt trampled in the mass exodus.

Which, quite succinctly, summarises the reason for the initial coded warning before going public with it ... so the staff get in evacuation positions before slowly turning round and shouting Fire, thus ensuring they aren't trampled in the mass exodus and can help facilitate it a.s.a.p.

 

[detective-boy]

The code for a bomb scare in the theatre is 'Mr Jet is in the building'

I thought that was the WTC code for an Al Queda attack ...

 

[Spymaster]

I heard the Inspector Sands message at Baker Street this morning.

A few seconds before the message there was an announcement that "we will shortly be testing our fire alert. This is a test"

 

[winterinmoscow]

i heard the inspector sands call at Leeds station recently. I have to say it was relaly irritating because it went on for almost an hour

 

[laptop]

A few years ago I clearly heard "Inspector Panic to the control room" at Bank tube on my way to something fairly important... I left... as the taxi I found was pulling away, the rest of the station evacuated after me, to a general absence of taxis.

 

[DJ Squelch]

I thought that was the WTC code for an Al Queda attack ...

 

[wiskey]

we have to be careful at work as the code we u8se for a patient who is definitely dead is the same as the one the plod use for a royal family alert.

i used to get really freaked out when the claxons went in work and heathrow would tell us they had an emergency. but they happen so often now it all sort of blends into one.

 

[salem]

On a related note, I've heard that "time checks" in department stores are a bomb warning. eg: "This is a time check. The time is now xxx". Never heard that one but I'd probably head towards the nearest exit if I did, just to be sure.

Was defiantly in the staff hand book when my sister worked in John Lewis around 10 years ago. Used to be very smug in the fact that I'd be first out should the situation arise

I've heard the inspector sands thing once in Liverpool St. and quickened up my pace (was leaving anyway) went to the coffee shop across the road to meet my mate rather then wait under the big glass entrance too.

 

[Citizen66]

Only someone with recent TfL knowledge would be able to tell you what that actual message means on the tube at present.

It's a fire alert. Strangely enough, a fire alert has to be verified by an appointed member of staff before the station is evacuated. Hence the Inspector Sands message, they're asking for someone with authority to investigate prior to evacuation and closing the station. It's a procedure to prevent the tube closing all the time through false alarms.

 

[minkboy]

It's a fire alert. Strangely enough, a fire alert has to be verified by an appointed member of staff before the station is evacuated. Hence the Inspector Sands message, they're asking for someone with authority to investigate prior to evacuation and closing the station. It's a procedure to prevent the tube closing all the time through false alarms.

Not quite. The Station Staff have 3 minutes to reset a callpoint in a public area.
If an number of callpoints are actuated, or fire detection or callpoints in a secure room/area are set off then the station will go into Evacuation Mode.

Then the Fire Service are called and only they can reset it , or an Infraco Contractors Engineer, once the Fire Service confirm it is faulty. The station may then have to remain closed.

 

[Citizen66]

Not quite. The Station Staff have 3 minutes to reset a callpoint in a public area.
If an number of callpoints are actuated, or fire detection or callpoints in a secure room/area are set off then the station will go into Evacuation Mode.

Then the Fire Service are called and only they can reset it , or an Infraco Contractors Engineer, once the Fire Service confirm it is faulty. The station may then have to remain closed.

Sorry, I didn't realise you wanted a seminar on it !!