Dealing with Emergencies

Natural disasters and emergencies are a fact of life in any country, and Japan is no exception. Earthquakes are one example of issues that you may have to deal with while living in Japan. This article will provide information on how to prepare for emergency situations and what to do in the event that you encounter an emergency.

In emergency situations, dial the fire department or an ambulance at 119. For traffic accidents, dial the police at 110.

Minor Emergencies
Sometimes things just go wrong. It can be stressful and overwhelming to deal with trouble when you live abroad, but the following information can maybe save you a headache.

General Advice

 * Try to stay calm when you encounter a problem.
 * Call someone when you are facing an obstacle.
 * Ideally, you can call your supervisor. But for smaller problems, your RA or PA (or a friend!) can give advice.
 * Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place at home.
 * Always keep your insurance card, drivers license, and zairyu card on you at all times.
 * You are NOT required to carry your passport on you as you are not a tourist. Sometimes police will try to insist you need to, but it's a misunderstanding of the rule - your zairyu card is enough.

Traffic Accidents
No matter how small the accident, you must call both the police and your supervisor. If you need interpretation help, you can also call an RA or fellow ALT who is good at speaking Japanese. Failure to call the police can be used against you as a "hit-and-run" allegation, which can cause serious consequences for both you AND your supervisors. Dial the police at 110.

Lost property
When you lose something important, you might have to make a lost item report. This can be done at the police station or a police box. If someone finds your property, it is custom to give the finder a monetary rewards (about 5~20% of the item's value).

Minor medical situation
Check out the Healthcare & clinics page and try to find a doctor to visit. Ask a trusted friend or your RA to come with you to the doctor. Often, if you plan well in advance, a PA may be able to assist with interpretation via the phone or in person.

Major medical emergency
Call the ambulance at (119). It's free!! In Japan, many clinics will turn away walk-in patients. The ambulance as it is driving is literally calling around to clinics to find a place with the capacity to take you in. So just give them a call and let them do the dirty work of finding the right hospital. For serious accidents or injuries, keep all of your bills as you may be able to get reimbursed for surgery via the JET accident insurance policy.

Preparing for Natural Disasters
Before a natural disaster occurs, it is best to know ahead of time where your evacuation center is. These are called Hinan Basho, and they are usually local community centers or schools. You should talk with your supervisors and other ALTs to confirm where you would evacuate to in the case of earthquakes, flooding, and/or tsunami. A map showing evacuation areas can be found here. You should also consider joining in Hinan Kunren (evacuation drills) at school or at your office.

Preparing an emergency kit
The most important way to prepare for natural disasters is to have an emergency kit at the ready. An emergency kit should include:


 * Water: Two litres of water per person per day. Make sure to include smaller bottles in the event of an evacuation notice. Replace this every year.
 * Food: Non-perishable food, such as dried food or canned food. Special types of "survival food" can also be found; it is marked 非常食 in Japanese. Replace this every year.
 * Manual can opener for canned food.
 * Flashlight and batteries. A hand-powered flashlight is also useful.
 * Portable radio: Battery-powered or wind-up.
 * Extra batteries.
 * First-aid kit. It would also be useful to include a 7-day supply of prescriptions, medicine and medical items like syringes.
 * Cash, both in large and small units, as well as change.
 * Copies of important documents (Residence card, passport, etc.)
 * Emergency Contact Information.
 * A bag to carry important items in, in the event that you are advised to evacuate.

Other useful items to have nearby are:


 * Tool to turn off utilities, like a wrench or pliers.
 * Filter masks.
 * Whistle.
 * Plastic wrap, disposable plates, cups and utensils to avoid using water unnecessarily for washing.
 * Blankets.
 * Extra garbage bags.

Earthquakes
Earthquakes are a common occurrence in Japan, and undoubtedly a major source of worry for relatives at home. While over a thousand earthquakes occur in Japan yearly, most are relatively small and are not cause for major concern. That being said, major earthquakes can and do happen, and can cause major damage, injury and death.

What to do when an Earthquake Occurs
During an earthquake: Following an earthquake:
 * Turn off any potential fire hazards (gas, electric blanket, stove, etc)
 * Secure an exit
 * Open a door immediately when you feel an earthquake to ensure an escape route when the earthquake is over. Just to be safe, use something to prevent the door from shutting close (could be just a shoe or pillow).  In some cases, the earthquake can damage the frame, preventing the door from opening.
 * Go to a safe area
 * If you are indoors, get under a sturdy desk or table and cover your head with a pillow. If you are in bed, remain in bed and cover your head with a pillow. As much as possible, avoid areas where furniture or loose items can fall on you. Do not rush outside.
 * If you are outdoors, make your way to an area with few tall buildings or power lines, such as a park or sports field.
 * Turn on your television and await instruction regarding evacuation. Evacuation advisory is called Hinan Kankoku, and an evacuation order is called Hinan Shiji.
 * Turn off all appliances.
 * Turn off the gas main, and unplug any other electrical equipment.
 * When evacuating, turn off your circuit breaker or fuse box before you leave.
 * If you are near water, evacuate to higher ground, a tsunami evacuation building or a tsunami evacuation area.

Resources
For more information, see the following websites:


 * Preparing for Disasters and Accidents
 * Earthquakes
 * Information on Current Earthquakes
 * Heatstroke Risk