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Traveling in Japan - Calling for Help

Module by: Patrick Frantz

Summary: Some useful Travel information on Japan, compiled by NUS for the delegates of the INNOVATE 2005 conference in Singapore and Tokyo. This module contains information on calling for help in the event of an emergency.

Calling for Help

In case of an emergency in Japan, being able to communicate with the emergency dispatcher can literally be a lifesaver.

The emergency operator staff, which can be reached by dialing 119, has English-speaking staff available. In addition, the Tokyo Metropolitan Health & Medical Information Center offers an emergency interpretation service with English-speaking doctors at (03) 5285-8185. Their website, himawari.tokyo-hpc.or.jp, contains an excellent, comprehensive "Guide to Emergency Medical Treatment in Tokyo".

Here's how to deal with emergency calls in Japan.

First Steps

  • In case of emergency, dial 119 (may not work from cell phones);
  • In case of fire, say: KAJI DESU;
  • To call an ambulance, say: KYUU-KYUU DESU;
  • Do not hang up until the dispatcher understands your address and telephone number;
  • Send someone out to the nearest major intersection to meet the ambulance or fire truck.

What May Happen During Your Call

Dispatcher: SHOU BOU CHOU... KAJI DESU KA? KYUU KYUU DESU KA? (Fire department... Fire or ambulance?)

Caller: KYUU KYUU DESU. (Ambulance)

Dispatcher: DOU SHIMASHITA KA? (What happened?)

Caller: (see vocabulary below)

Table 1
Telephone number is... DENWA BANGO WA (number)... DESU.
My name is... WATASHI NO NAMAE WA (name)... DESU.
Table 2
Bleeding SHUKKETSU DESU
Broken bone KOSSETSU DESU
Burn HIDOI YAKEDO DESU
Difficulty breathing KOKYUU KONNAN DESU
Convulsions KEIREN DESU
Chest pains MUNE GA TAIHEN KURUSHII DESU
High fever KOU NETSU DESU
Injury KEGA DESU
Poison DOKUBUTSU DESU
Poison gas DOKU GASU DESU
Sick BYOUKI DESU
Unconscious ISHIKI FUMEI DESU

Giving Your Address

The emergency service people need to know how to locate you in order to help. The dispatcher may say JU-SHO WA? (or) NANI-KU, NANI- MACHI, NAN-BAN DESU KA?, asking "What is your address?"

For example, the address of the American Embassy in English is: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo

In Japanese, this is reversed, and best understood, as follows: Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Akasaka itt-chome juu no go.

Table 3
Front MAE
Behind URA
Diagonally in Front NANA ME MAE
Next To TONARI
Intersection KOOSATEN

Since many Japanese streets do not bear names and house/building numbers are not consecutive, it is very important that you learn how to give adequate directions to your residence in case you need to explain it to a dispatcher, usually guiding them by way of major landmarks.

One of the best tests to determine if you have the capability to guide someone to your residence is being able to order a taxicab, and not from a company which has your information already programmed into its computer.

Japanese neighbors are a great source of information - ask them to tell you, word by word, how they direct people to their residences. Practice these directions on a regular basis and keep a cheat sheet by your telephone for family, babysitters, or friends to use in case of need.

Assuming you are not calling from a cell phone, just stay on the line. Emergency operators at the fire department in most major urban centers have the ability to trace calls to your location.

Other Important Points

You can call an ambulance anytime and anywhere in Japan by simply dialing 119 (may not work from cell phones). Ambulances operate free while medical expenses are charged.

Ambulance personnel transfer the patient to the nearest, most suitable medical center depending on the symptoms and condition of the patient as well as on the situation and location. The patient may not therefore be taken to the hospital of his or her choice.

To call an ambulance from a public phone, no coins nor telephone cards are needed if the public phone has an emergency call button (exceptions include red and pink phones, which operate only with 10 yen coins). Pick up the receiver, press the red emergency call button and dial 119. Newer public phones do not have an emergency call button, but do allow you to call for help by simply dialing 119.

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