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Living and working in Japan is generally safe, but medical emergencies can happen anytime.

Biglang sumakit ang dibdib. Nahimatay ang kasama mo. May serious accident. Hirap huminga. Or someone becomes unconscious.

In situations like these, knowing who to call and what to say can make a huge difference.

The most important number to remember is :

MEDICAL EMERGENCY : 119

In Japan, 119 is the emergency number for :

• Ambulance

• Fire department

1. Call 119 for a Serious Medical Emergency

If someone is seriously ill or injured and needs immediate emergency assistance :

Call 119

When the operator answers, indicate that you need an ambulance.

You can say :

救急です。

Kyūkyū desu.

“It's a medical emergency.”

or

救急車をお願いします。

Kyūkyūsha o onegaishimasu.

“Please send an ambulance.”

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency instructs callers to first say that it is a medical emergency, then provide the location, symptoms, patient's age, and caller's contact information.

2. 119 Is Different From 110

Don't mix up Japan's two important emergency numbers.

119

Ambulance / Fire

110

Police

For example :

Serious medical emergency → 119

Fire → 119

Crime or immediate police emergency → 110

Save these two numbers in your memory—not just your phone.

3. What Will the 119 Operator Ask?

Try to remain calm. You don't need to explain everything perfectly in one sentence.

The operator will normally ask questions such as :

1. Is it a fire or medical emergency?

Say :

救急です。

Kyūkyū desu.

2. Where are you?

Give your address or location.

3. What happened?

Describe the patient's symptoms or injury.

4. How old is the patient?

Give the age or approximate age.

5. What is your name and phone number?

Provide contact details in case the ambulance crew needs to reach you.

These are part of the official 119 call procedure.

4. Know Your Address

During an emergency, knowing your location is extremely important.

If you're at home, keep your Japanese address somewhere easy to access.

For example :

東京都〇〇区〇〇1-2-3

If you don't know the exact address, tell the operator about a nearby :

• Convenience store

• Train station

• School

• Building

• Intersection

• Hotel

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency advises callers who don't know the address to provide a nearby building or intersection as a landmark.

5. When Should You Call an Ambulance?

Not every fever or headache requires an ambulance.

But some symptoms should be treated seriously.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare advises calling an ambulance immediately for warning signs including :

• Sudden severe headache

• Sudden difficulty breathing

• Severe or persistent chest pain

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side

• Difficulty speaking

• Severe persistent abdominal pain

• Vomiting blood

• Loss of consciousness

• Convulsions

• Serious injuries or burns

If the situation appears life-threatening or highly urgent :

Don't hesitate to call 119.

6. Know the Signs of Stroke

A stroke is an emergency.

Warning signs can include sudden :

• Facial weakness or drooping

• Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg

• Difficulty speaking

• Vision problems

• Severe headache

• Difficulty standing or walking

Japan's health authorities specifically identify sudden facial weakness, speech problems, one-sided arm or leg weakness, and sudden severe headache among symptoms requiring urgent ambulance attention.

Don't say :

“Tulog muna ako, baka mawala.”

Call 119 when serious stroke symptoms appear.

7. Chest Pain Can Also Be an Emergency

Don't ignore sudden or severe chest pain.

Especially if someone has :

• Strong pressure or squeezing in the chest

• Sudden severe chest or back pain

• Difficulty breathing

• Collapse

• Abnormal consciousness

These can require immediate medical attention.

If the symptoms are serious, call 119.

8. What If the Person Is Unconscious?

If someone collapses :

Check whether they respond.

Call out to them and check their condition.

If they're unresponsive and the situation is an emergency :

Call 119.

Follow the dispatcher's instructions.

The emergency call center may give you instructions for first aid while the ambulance is on its way.

If other people are nearby, ask someone to help.

9. Learn How to Use an AED

You may have noticed boxes marked :

AED

in :

• Train stations

• Offices

• Schools

• Shopping centers

• Sports facilities

• Public buildings

AED means :

Automated External Defibrillator

If someone experiences cardiac arrest, an AED may be used together with CPR.

The device provides voice instructions, so follow them carefully.

If you're working in Japan long-term, taking a first-aid/CPR course is a genuinely useful skill. Local fire departments offer emergency-treatment training.

10. What Should You Prepare for the Ambulance?

If possible—and only if doing so doesn't delay urgent care—prepare useful items while waiting.

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency recommends having things such as :

• Identification/passport

• Health insurance information

• Patient registration card

• Current medication information

• Money/payment method

• Shoes

For young children, useful items may also include their maternal and child health handbook and necessary baby supplies.

If you have your :

お薬手帳（Okusuri Techō）

Medication notebook

prepare that too.

11. Your My Number Health Insurance Card Can Help

Japan now also has :

マイナ救急（Maina Kyūkyū）

Under this system, participating ambulance crews can use a patient's My Number Card registered for health insurance use to access relevant medical information, such as previous medical visits and prescribed medications, when the applicable conditions are met.

This can help emergency personnel make decisions about transportation and treatment—particularly when the patient or family has difficulty communicating medical history during an emergency. The nationwide initiative began in October 2025 and has expanded broadly across Japan.

So keeping your My Number Card accessible can be useful.

12. Prepare Your Medical Information Before an Emergency Happens

Don't wait until you're inside an ambulance to remember :

“Ano nga pala pangalan ng gamot ko?”

Keep a simple emergency record on your phone containing :

• Full name

• Date of birth

• Emergency contact

• Allergies

• Current medications

• Important medical conditions

• Regular hospital/clinic

• Home address

You can also keep a printed copy in your wallet.

13. What If You Don't Speak Japanese?

Don't let the language barrier stop you from calling 119 during a genuine emergency.

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency has been expanding multilingual support for foreign callers, including three-way telephone interpretation and multilingual translation tools used by ambulance crews. Availability and implementation can vary by fire department.

If you can speak some English, say :

“Ambulance, please.”

Then provide your location as clearly as possible.

If a Japanese speaker is nearby, you can also ask them to help.

14. Useful Japanese Emergency Phrases

救急です。

Kyūkyū desu.

It's a medical emergency.

救急車をお願いします。

Kyūkyūsha o onegaishimasu.

Please send an ambulance.

意識がありません。

Ishiki ga arimasen.

They are unconscious.

息ができません。

Iki ga dekimasen.

They cannot breathe.

胸が痛いです。

Mune ga itai desu.

My chest hurts.

頭がとても痛いです。

Atama ga totemo itai desu.

My head hurts badly.

血が出ています。

Chi ga dete imasu.

There is bleeding.

ここです。

Koko desu.

It's here.

15. What If You're Not Sure Whether You Need an Ambulance?

Sometimes the situation isn't clearly life-threatening.

You might think :

“Kailangan ko ba talagang tumawag ng ambulance?”

Japan has an emergency consultation service known as :

#7119

In participating areas, #7119 provides telephone advice when you're unsure whether you should call an ambulance or seek immediate medical care.

Medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, or emergency medical personnel can provide guidance, and highly urgent cases can be directed toward 119.

However, #7119 availability varies by area.

If the situation is clearly serious or life-threatening, don't waste time checking :

Call 119.

16. Don't Drive Yourself During a Serious Emergency

If you're experiencing severe symptoms such as :

• Serious chest pain

• Severe breathing difficulty

• Stroke symptoms

• Loss of consciousness

• Major injury

don't try to be tough and drive yourself.

You could lose consciousness or become unable to drive safely.

Call 119 and let emergency professionals assess the situation.

17. What Happens When the Ambulance Arrives?

Emergency personnel will assess the patient and gather relevant information.

Be ready to explain :

• What happened

• When symptoms started

• How the condition changed

• Any first aid already provided

• Existing medical conditions

• Regular hospital or clinic

• Current medicines

• Relevant doctor's instructions

Japan's official ambulance guidance specifically recommends preparing this information.

Give short, accurate answers.

18. Don't Forget Your Medication Information

Your current medicines can be extremely important during an emergency.

If possible, bring :

お薬手帳（Okusuri Techō）

or your actual medication information.

Don't just say :

“May iniinom akong gamot pero hindi ko alam pangalan.”

Keeping an updated medicine list on your phone is a simple habit that can be very useful.

19. Emergency vs. Non-Emergency

It's important to understand the difference.

Emergency

Examples :

• Unconsciousness

• Severe difficulty breathing

• Serious chest pain

• Signs of stroke

• Major bleeding

• Serious accident

• Severe burns

• Convulsions

➡️ Call 119

Non-Emergency

Examples might include mild symptoms that are stable and don't require immediate emergency intervention.

➡️ Consider a clinic, hospital, or appropriate medical consultation service.

The key is not to delay when the symptoms are genuinely serious.

20. If You Live Alone, Prepare an Emergency Plan

This is particularly important for OFWs living alone.

Make sure at least one trusted person knows :

• Your address

• Emergency contact details

• Important medical conditions when appropriate

• How to reach your family

Keep your phone charged.

You may also want to save an emergency contact as :

緊急連絡先（Kinkyū Renrakusaki）

Emergency contact

Being prepared matters when there's nobody else at home to explain your situation.

Medical Emergency Checklist for OFWs

Remember :

• 119 = Ambulance and Fire

• 110 = Police

• Know your Japanese address.

• Keep emergency contacts on your phone.

• Keep your My Number health insurance card accessible.

• Keep your medication information updated.

• Know your allergies.

• Keep your Okusuri Techō accessible.

• Learn basic Japanese emergency phrases.

• Know where the nearest AED is at work.

• Consider learning CPR and first aid.

• Check whether #7119 is available in your area for non-life-threatening uncertainty.

Useful Japanese Words

救急（Kyūkyū） – Emergency medical care

救急車（Kyūkyūsha） – Ambulance

救急病院（Kyūkyū Byōin） – Emergency hospital

消防（Shōbō） – Fire department/firefighting

意識（Ishiki） – Consciousness

呼吸（Kokyū） – Breathing

症状（Shōjō） – Symptoms

けが（Kega） – Injury

応急手当（Ōkyū Teate） – First aid

AED（エーイーディー） – Automated External Defibrillator

お薬手帳（Okusuri Techō） – Medication notebook

緊急連絡先（Kinkyū Renrakusaki） – Emergency contact

Tips for Filipinos in Japan

If you remember nothing else from this article, remember :

119 = Ambulance / Fire

110 = Police

#7119 = Emergency medical consultation in participating areas

And when calling 119, focus on five things :

1. Medical emergency

2. Location

3. What happened / symptoms

4. Patient's age

5. Your name and contact number

You don't need perfect Japanese.

In a serious emergency, making the call is more important than making a perfect sentence.

Medical emergencies are scary anywhere—but experiencing one in another country can be especially stressful.

The best preparation is simple:

Know 119. Know your address. Keep your medical information accessible. Learn a few emergency phrases.

If someone is unconscious, having serious difficulty breathing, experiencing severe chest pain or possible stroke symptoms, or has another potentially life-threatening condition, don't hesitate to call 119. Japan's health authorities specifically advise calling an ambulance immediately for serious warning signs.

Most importantly, don't let fear of speaking Japanese prevent you from asking for emergency help.

Sa PhilMoney, nais naming suportahan ang mga OFW sa Japan hindi lamang sa remittance, kundi pati na rin sa pagbibigay ng practical information tungkol sa healthcare, emergencies, safety, at everyday life in Japan para mas maging informed, prepared, at confident habang naninirahan sa Japan.

Note : This article is intended for general information only. Regulations and procedures in Japan and the Philippines may change. Please verify the latest information with the appropriate government agency or official institution before taking action.