Ⅳ．Handling an Emergency

The following conditions need urgent treatment and require an ambulance :serious injury, choking, unconsciousness, no breathing,severe bleeding, difficulty in breathing even when resting.

Call 119: "Kyukyu-desu"(This is an emergency).
   ↓
Give your location(address).
   ↓
Give some landmark if possible:
   ↓ ex. In front of the Tobacco Store.
Describe the accident or illness and symptoms.
   ↓
Explain the number of patients, their sex and whether child or adult.

• If there is more than one person, wait outside and guide the ambulance.
• When the ambulance staff arrives, guide them to the room where the patient is.
• Tell the patient's name, age and blood type.
• Describe the patient's condition and symptoms, and the emergency treatment provided, if any, and treatment the patient has been receiving.
• If family members are there, they should accompany the patient.
• Calling an ambulance from a public phone
  • Push the red emergency button near the bottom of the phone (Free of charge).
  • Dial 119
• If you dial 119, even if you are unable to talk or make yourself understood, "DO NOT HANG UP" for they will be able to direct the ambulance to find you by tracing your call.

• If you want to go to a certain hospital, call the hospital in advance to see if they will be able to see you.
• Provide emergency treatment as much as possible.
• Prepare your National Health Insurance card and cash for returning home.

Night time:

Hospitals and clinics are closed at night. If you cannot wait till the next morning, you can go to the hospitals designated for emergency treatment or the emergency room of general hospitals. However, if you go there without any advance notice, you may have a long wait due to the doctor's unavailability. Make sure to call them first and ask if they can see you by explaining your symptoms.

Holidays:

Most hospitals and clinics are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays. You can see the doctors on duty on holidays at clinics. Emergency rooms at large hospitals are open at night, on weekends and holidays. But you need to call them in advance.

The phone numbers for the information on the hospitals and clinics available at night or on holidays(see Practical Japnese Medical Information).

Copyright 2004 Tokyo Tech Internatinal Student Center all rights reserved.