Guide forAmbulance Services

Please call 119 when you need an ambulance service
This guide explains how to use ambulance services in Japan and what you should notewhen you use it.
○How to call an ambulance………………………………………………………………2○Examples of signs and symptoms that need ambulance services(Adult and Child) ………3, 4○Some tips for calling an ambulance ………………………………………………………5○What is Heat Stroke?

……………………………………………………………………6※The ambulance service is available for anyone in Japan.

Fire and DisasterManagement Agency(Please see our website)How to call an ambulance
After receiving the 119 call, the dispatcher will ask you some questions needed for anambulance dispatch. If the situation is serious, the ambulance will be dispatched before all thesequestions have been asked.

※ Please ask them to help you call if there are Please stay calm and answer slowly.
people who speak Japanese around you.
119. Are you in afire emergeny or a
medical emergency?

Tell the dispatcher you are in a
１ medical emergency.
When you call 119, first tell the operatoryou are in a medical emergency. You cancall 119 by the mobile phone, PHS, fixed
telephone or the public telephone.

Medical emergency.

Where is the locationof the emergency?

Tell the operator the２ location of the emergency.
Please tell the place where you are .
If you do not know the address,
describe a nearby building orintersection as a landmark.

The address is ….

What
happened?

３ Tell your symptoms.
Tell your symptoms and when
they started.

I have chest pain.

How old areyou?

４ Tell your age.
If you are not the patient, ratherjust calling for others, tell theoperator how old he/she is or looks.

I’m 40.

Please give me yourname and contact details.

Give your name and５ contact details.
Give your name and a phone number,so that you could be reached evenafter the 119 call ends.
The crew may contact you if theycannot find your location.

My name is XXX andmy phone number is
XXX-XXXX-XXXX.

※ In addition to this, the dispatcher may ask you more details and information about your or the patient’s medical
condition.Please give them as much information as possible.
※ The above illustrated flow is one of the most common cases of communication with the 119 operators.
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Do not hesitate to call an ambulance if you have any of the following conditions.

FaceAdultHead● Sudden severe headache● Have difficulties in moving orfeel numbnessin half-sideof your face

●Sudden high grade fever●Severe dizziness requiring
help to stand● Facialasymmetry
on smiling

Chest and back● Slur of your words or
improper speech● Sudden severe pain
● Sudden shortness of breathor difficulty in breathing● Have difficulties in seeing● Feeling compression in yourchest for a few minutes● Double vision● Obviously looks sick● Migrating pain

StomachArms and legs

● Sudden severe abdominal pain
● Continuous severe abdominal pain

● Sudden numbness● Vomiting of blood● Sudden weakness of yourleg and/or arm on one-side● Blood in stool

Abnormal mental status

Nausea● Unconscious (no response) or stupor● Severe nausea with cold sweats● Exhaustion

Swallowing● Dyspnea with food getting
stuck in the throat

Seizure/Convulsion● Unconsciousness afterswallowing something● Continuous convulsion● Unconscious even after terminationof convulsion

Accident

Trauma / Burn

● Traffic accident with high energy impact● Trauma with massivebleeding● Near drowning● Falls from a high place● Extensive burn

◎ Any other situation in which the patient’s condition is abnormal or unusual.
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Do not hesitate to call an ambulance if you have any of the following conditions.

Child(under 15 years old)

HeadFace● Blue lips

● Complains headache withconvulsion/seizure happening● Obviously looks sick

● Continuous bleeding, loss orabnormality of consciousness
and abnormal mental status
due to strongly hitting headon something

Chest● Violent cough and/orwheezing

Stomach● Weak breathing● Severe diarrhea or vomiting,
not eating or drinking,abnormal mental status

Arms and legs

● Suffering from strong stomachpain●Rigidity of legs and/or arms

● Continuously vomiting● Bloody stool

Abnormal mental status● Unconscious (no response)or stupor

Seizure● Continuous seizure● Unconsciousness after seizure

Urticaria● Whole body urticaria
and pallor of the faceafter insect biteBurnSwallowing● Unconsciousness afterswallowing something

Accident● Severely painful burn

● Traffic accident withhigh energy impact● Extensive burn

● Nearly drowning● Falls from a high place

Baby under 3 months old● Something wrong
with a baby

◎ In the case that parents find the children’s condition abnormal or unusual.
4Some tips for calling an ambulance
Dial 119 to call an ambulance

Emergency transport system by ambulance (from 119 call to medical institution)

119 callJudging level ofpriority on the call

Emergencysituation
Ambulance
dispatch

Medicalfacility

Observation andSelection of medicaltreatment
facilities to transport patients toIf you can ask people on site, send them out tothe place where the ambulance is due to arrive.
This will help the ambulance crew reach you
more quickly.

Transportation byambulanceThis wayplease

It is helpful if you can prepare the following things when calling an ambulance.
·Passport·Cash/Credit card (to pay at the hospital)

Medicine·Current medication
CashPASSPORT

Current medication

When the ambulance arrives, tell the ambulance team the following information.
・ The conditions under which the accident orillness occurred・ Any changes before the ambulance arrived
・ Most painful symptoms
・ Past history of sickness
・ Current medication

Illness is ●●●Regular medication is■■■5※ It is useful to have a note ofyour current medical statusin hand.

<For Your Information> How to Prevent Heat Stroke

It is so humid and hot during summer in Japan, and temperature sometimes exceeds 35℃(95F). As a result, morethan 40,000 people are urgently transported to hospitals for “heat stroke” every year. You should take enoughcares before you get heat stroke.

What is Heat Stroke?
The symptoms of heat stroke are high body temperature, dizziness, malaise, seizure
and abnormal mental status. Since high temperature breaks a balance of water andsalt(sodium) in your body, you can't control your body temperature and you get heatstroke.

High temperature and humidity may take place even indoors,whichmakes it difficult to release the heat from body. So you need to takecare not to get heat stroke when staying at home as well.
The points of heat stroke preventionCheck the temperature in your room frequently!
We recommend you put a thermometer in your room.
Use an air-conditioner or fan to keep the room temperature under 28℃ ! (82F)
Drink water even when you are not so thirsty!
Dress in cool and loose clothes and use sunshade goods when you go out!
Take an enough rest and do not work too hard!
Eat balanced meals and build up healthy condition!

First Aid for Heat Stroke
Move patients to a cooler space, loosen their clothes,and lay them down.
Turn on an air-conditioner and send the wind by fan tocool down their body.
Cool armpit andthe base of thigh.
Let them drink
water little by little ifthey can.

water

In the case of having a chronic disease or being a child, please consult your home doctor to
get an advice about heat stroke prevention.

Please call an ambulance without hesitation under these conditons.

※ Please ask them to help you call if there are people who speak Japanese around you.

When you cannot drink water or move by yourself for feeling a strong
weakness or languor.
When you find people who have symptoms such as no (or unstable)
consciousness or convulsions over the entire body.
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