1. How to call an ambulance（119）
  2. How to call an ambulance from a public telephone

１．How to call an ambulance（119）

The Number to call an ambulance is 119.
If you are worried about your Japanese, seek help from someone nearby who can understand Japanese.

When you call 119, the dispatcher of the center will ask you the questions below.

  1. Tell them it’s an emergency
    Dispatcher：「119番、火事ですか？救急ですか？」 (119 ban, kaji desuka? Kyukyu desuka?) 
    EN:”119, Fire or Emergency?”
    You：「救急です」 (Kyukyu desu.)
    EN: ”It’s an emergency.”
  • 119 handles both fires and emergencies, so be clear whether it’s a fire or an emergency. 
  1. Tell the address of where you want an ambulance to be dispatched
    Dispatcher：「住所はどこですか？」 (Jyusho wa doko desuka?)
               EN:” Where is the address?”
    You：「○○市□□町△丁目◇番地です」 (○○-shi □□chou/machi △choume ◇bannchi desu)
  • Be sure to tell the name of the city. If you don’t know the address, tell the nearest tall building, intersection, or landmark.
  • The management number on a telephone pole, the control number of a traffic light, the management number on a sign, and the address displayed on a vending machine (soft drinks) can be used to tell the address. If you don’t know the address, try to find these nearby.
  1. Tell about symptoms of a person who is not feeling well
    Dispatcher：どうしましたか？ (Doushimashita ka?)
              EN: “What happened?”
    You：父親が、胸の痛みを訴えて倒れました。 (Chichioya ga, mune no itami wo uttaete tawore mashita.) EN:” My father collapsed complaining of chest pain.”
  • Firstly, tell Who, How, What simply. Tell whether or not they are conscious or breathing.
  • If there’s multiple sick people or injured people, tell the number as well.
  • In addition to that, they may ask about chronic illness and family doctor/hospital, detailed situation of time of collapse. Tell them what you know. 
  1. Tell the age of person who is not feeling well
    Dispatcher：おいくつの方ですか？ (Oikutsu no kata desuka?)
                 EN: “How old is he/she?”
    You：65歳です (Rokujyugo sai desu.)
       EN: “He/She is 65 years old.”
  • If you don’t know, “60s”, “about 30s or 40s”, “elementary school student” roughly are fine.
  1. Tell your name and contact information
    Dispatcher：あなたの名前と連絡先を教えてください。 (Anata no namae to renraku saki wo oshiete kudasai.) 
    EN: “Tell me your name and contact information.”
    You：私の名前は○○○○です。電話番号は・・・・です。 (Watashi no namae wa ○○○○. Denwa bango ha…..desu.)
     EN: ”My name is ○○○○. My number is ….”
  • Provide a phone number that you can be reached at, such a mobile phone number. Please do not turn off the power even after the report is over, you may be asked for direction to the location.

If possible, have these in place.

  • Passport（Foreigner）
  • Residence card（Foreigner）
  • Insurance card
  • Examination ticket
  • Cash
  • Medical Information Kits
  • Shoes（Especially when collapsed indoors such as home）
  • Medications and medicine notebook
  • Mother and child health handbook, paper diapers, baby bottle、and towel (Infants）

２．How to call an ambulance from a public telephone

You can call 119 from a public telephone.

■Green public telephone

  1. Lift the receiver
  2. Press the “Emergency Call Button”
  3. Dial 119

■Gray public telephone or card-type public telephone

  1. Lift the receiver
  2. Dial 119

■Pink public telephone

・ If there is an Emergency Call Button

  1. Lift the receiver
  2. Press the “Emergency Call Button”
  3. Dial 119

・If there is no Emergency Call Button

  1. Lift the receiver 
  2. Dial 119