Emergency Situations

Emergency Phone Calls:

From a public phone insert 10 yen or push the red button at the bottom to make the call free of charge.

Emergency phone numbers
Police (Keisatsusho 警察署) 110
Fire / Ambulance (Shōbōsho 消防署) 119
Japan Coast Guard Okinawa HQ (098) 867-0118

Make a personal information card
Please create a card with your name and phone number should you ever need to give your information to an emergency operator. For example:

Name: Watashi no namae wa _______________________________ desu.
Address: Watashi no jyūsho wa ___________________________ desu.
Telephone Number: Watashi no denwa bangō wa _____________ desu.

Emergency Japanese
In an emergency situation it might be difficult to find a person proficient in a foreign language. Therefore, the following phrases could be helpful.

How to say numbers in Japanese
0 rei, 1 ichi, 2 ni, 3 san, 4 yon, 5 go, 6 roku, 7 nana, 8 hachi, 9 kyū, 10 jū
＊The dash (-) in a phone number is pronounced "no."

Pronunciation of Japanese sounds:
VOWELS:
A "ah," as in "father"
I "ee" as in "meet"
U "oo" as in "flute"
E "eh" as in "etch"
O "oh" as in ""rope"
CONSONANTS:
＊Japanese consonants are basically the same as English.
The "R" sound is halfway between the English "R" and the English "L" sounds.

Police

Police Boxes (kōban 交番)
If you are in need of help while walking or driving in Urasoe, there are police boxes available which offer services. Municipalities throughout Japan use this system. Listed below are the police boxes in Urasoe City.

Fire and Ambulance

For emergencies which require an ambulance or fire truck, please phone 119.

Typhoons

The typhoon season is from April to November. Typhoon conditions of readiness are broadcasted on AFN television and radio, and on Japanese TV.

• Have enough bottled water, food and candles available for a couple of days.
• Make sure your radio has batteries.
• Secure all loose objects outside.
• Make sure all pets are inside.

If the buses are not running, schools and public services (City Hall etc.) close for the day. Information about bus, ferry, and airplane cancellations is broadcast continually on Japanese television during typhoons.

• Avoid going outdoors.
• Be prepared for power outages.
• Leave your windows slightly open, enough to let the air pressure inside equalize with the outside air.
• If you windows are not reinforced, tape them in a crisscross fashion. (This is only necessary if the wind is extremely strong.)
• Listen to the radio for information and updates.

Earthquakes

Okinawa is not known to have damaging earthquakes, but it is best to be prepared should one occur.

• Have enough bottled water, non-perishable food, and candles to last a few days.
• Have a portable radio with batteries that work. You should also have some spare batteries available.
• Make sure all objects in your home are secured.
• Have a First Aid Kit available.
• Have some money in cash available.
• Make sure you know where your identifying documents are. Have your passport and other important documents readily available.

• Stay calm.
• Turn off all sources of fire and extinguish any flames.
• Open doors for escape.
• Protect yourself from injury against falling furniture and objects.
• Take refuge under a table or some other strong object and hold on to it.
• Cover your head.
• Stay away from brick and concrete block fences, etc.
• Do not use elevators.
• If you are operating a vehicle, pull over to the side of the road in a safe manner. After pulling over, listen to AFN, or a broadcasting system you understand, in order to get earthquake and traffic bulletins.
• Leave the center of the road open.
• Leave the engine key inserted and close the windows. Do not lock the doors.
• Do not attempt evacuation by car.
• Walk to the nearest safe area.
• Make sure you listen for tsunami warnings (tidal waves) on the radio.

Japanese Seismic Activity Scale

• 0....................Not felt
• 1....................Slight. Felt by some.
• 2....................Weak. Felt by most.
• 3....................Rather strong. Slight shaking of houses.
• 4....................Strong. Strong shaking of houses.
• Weak 5.......Very strong. Objects fall; windows crack.
• Strong 5...Walls crack and tumble.
• Weak 6.......Wooden houses may collapse; landslides occur.
• Strong 6...Concrete structures may collapse; landslides occur.
• 7....................Major Disaster

Refuge Shelters in Urasoe (Hinan-Jyo 避難所)

In the event of an emergency, please listen to the radio for more information. If instructed to do so, please go to the nearest shelter listed below.

Dangerous Creatures

Habu Snakes

Habu are a group of venomous snakes native to Okinawa and other islands in Okinawa Prefecture. Coloring varies by species, but in general the snakes are dark green and yellow with a triangular head, and measure up to two meters in length. Habu are usually encountered in dense vegetation or on the roadside. Although habu are sometimes seen in urban areas, they are more numerous in isolated rural areas.They are often found in and around tombs, in sugar cane fields, in caves, and in stone walls. In Okinawa, these and other snakes are most active during the spring and fall. They are for the most part nocturnal. If bitten, symptoms include paralyzing pain, swelling at the bitten point, and internal bleeding.

If you see a habu snake in Urasoe, please do not try to trap it yourself. For removal on weekdays, contact Urasoe City's Environmental Conservation Section (phone number listed above). During the weekend, contact the Urasoe Central Fire Station (877-6123) or Urasoe Police Department (875-0110).

• If you are hiking or working outdoors in an area far away from a hospital, you may want to bring an anti-venom kit with you.
• If bitten, remember to bind the limb so that the poison cannot spread as quickly. However, be careful not to cut off circulation in the limb completely.
• Phone 119 and get to a hospital that has the anti-venom as quickly as possible.
• There is no danger in sucking the venom out of the wound with your mouth. The venom will simply be digested in your stomach. You will experience irritation only if you have open sores in your mouth. This too is nothing to worry about.
• Remember to avoid panicking, as it will increase the heart rate, causing the poison to circulate further.

Habu Kurage (Box Jellyfish)

Habu Kurage are poisonous jellyfish sometimes found in the warm Okinawan waters. The peak "jellyfish season" is summer, between the months of June and September. They are 12 cm in diameter, and about 1.5m long (including their tentacles).They have 4 legs, each having 8 tentacles. Habu Kurage often mistake an unsuspecting swimmer as prey, attracted to the vibrations that swimmers make in the water.The stinging cells of the Habu Kurage contain poison clusters that burst, releasing strings of stingers into the victim. This can cause permanent scarring, and even death. The poison can cause breathing to stop, and even the heart to stop beating.

• Cover as much of your body as possible when swimming and snorkeling.
• Always dive with a wet suit.
• If stung, pour lots of cooking vinegar onto the wound to dilute the poison.
• Phone 119 and get to a hospital as quickly as possible.
• If the pain is unbearable, put some ice on it or place the wound under some cool water.

Home Safety

Gas Leaks

Please cooperate with the periodic inspections by the gas company. They are in accordance with regulations. If the gas is used over two hours, it may automatically shut off for safety reasons. Your oven is not out of order. Wait a few minutes and then open the plastic lid beside the gas meter and reset it. Keep pressing the button until it restarts.

• Close the main gas valve, and unplug utensils.
• Extinguish all open flames and sources of combustion.
• Open doors and windows to vent the gas out of the room.
• Do not turn on any electrical appliances. (This includes ventilation fans).
• Phone the Gas Company, housing agency, or landlord immediately for inspection.
• Do not attempt to fix a gas problem yourself. LP gas can be extremely dangerous if someone inexperienced tries to fix it.

Fire

Fire Extinguishers
When buying a fire extinguisher, select a reinforced solution type effective for oil fires. It is extremely dangerous to use old or damaged fire extinguishers, so make sure yours is new. The new type has a yellow safety plug and a pull-ring with a 2cm or larger inner diameter. To use a fire extinguisher, pull the plug upward, and grip the lever. Most fire extinguishers will work for 14 seconds.

In the event you cannot put the fire out, phone the fire department immediately, and alert your neighbors. The number for the fire department is 119. Say "kaji desu," and give your address.

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are not currently standard equipment in homes in Japan. If you want a smoke detector in your house or apartment, you will have to purchase one on your own. However, as of June 1, 2011, smoke detectors will be required in all apartments and private houses in Urasoe. If you are a private homeowner, you are responsible for installation. Landlords are responsible for installation in rental housing.

There have been reports of scam artists going door-to-door posing as government representatives and telling the residents that they will be fined if they do not immediately purchase expensive smoke detectors from the scam artists. Smoke detectors are available at most electronics stores, so there is no need to buy from anyone who seems suspicious.