Grumbling about TTC delays is a favourite pastime for Torontonians. This year alone, commuters have lost more than 7,000 minutes, or almost five days, because of delays resulting from Passenger Assistance Alarms. Nearly half the time, the alarm was triggered in error.

According to the latest statistics from the TTC, the alarm was activated 2,677 times this year. Nearly 70 per cent, or 1,826, of these occasions were for door-related issues, the alarm being pressed accidentally, or when someone was feeling sick but refused medical help.

To emphasize the very serious purpose of the alarm, the TTC is changing its name to Emergency Alarm. It reinforces the fact that it is the equivalent of calling 911 while underground and is to be used for emergencies only, TTC CEO Andy Byford said.

“The key message here is that absolutely if your safety is at risk, use the Emergency Alarm, but if not, let’s help our emergency service colleagues do their job properly, prioritize what’s really important and restrict the use of this alarm to genuine emergencies,” Byford said in an instructional YouTube video.

Genuine emergencies include fires, threats to personal safety and loss of consciousness. In other words, issues that one would normally call 911 for.

Milly Bernal, spokesperson for the TTC, said that hitting the alarm, which is only available on subway trains, deploys fire, police and paramedic teams. Each alarm can cause a delay of anywhere from two to 20 minutes while thetrain waits for emergency crews to arrive and resolve the situation.

An example of a non-emergency, Byford said, is when one is “just feeling a bit faint.” His advice is for the passenger to get off the train at the next station and get help there.

The TTC is also raising awareness about the emergency power cut-off buttons positioned at each end of the platform at every subway station. The button, which can be spotted below a blue light that is always on, is to be used when someone falls on the track so that power to the rail lines can be cut off. Once the button is pushed, Byford said people should follow the instructions on a phone behind a small door above the button.

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