KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Ⅰ In case of Trouble or Emergency

2. Emergency and Disaster

2-1 Making Emergency Calls

Police 110 Ambulance 119 Fire 119

〈Notes for when you make an emergency call〉

＊Emergency calls are answered 24 hours a day.

＊Making an emergency call is free of charge.

＊When you make a call, do not panic and give the following information:

(1) What happened.(Accident, incident, illness, fire)

(2) Location (Your address or a conspicuous landmark)

(3) Your name and phone number

＊When you hear the siren of the fire engine, come out to meet it and guide it to the scene of the fire.

＊\10 coins or telephone cards are not necessary when calling from a public telephone. Press the red button on a public telephone, and dial 110 or 119. When using a digital public telephone, pick up the receiver and dial.

＊When calling from a mobile phone, be sure to give the mobile phone number. It may be necessary for the fire department to call you back to check details of the location or circumstances, so after you have contacted the fire department, do not switch off the phone and remain at the scene. If you are driving, stop the car in a safe place before making the call.

2-2 Accidents and Incidents

Traffic Accidents

◆If you are a victim

＊Report the accident to the police immediately. If the accident is not reported to the police, the Kotsu Jiko Shomei-sho(Proof of a Traffic Accident), which is required to receive insurance payments, may not be obtainable.

＊Confirm the address and name of the driver and the owner of the vehicle (when the driver is not the owner), and also the vehicle registration number, dates of insurance coverage and name of insurance company.

＊Even if you think your injury is minor, get a medical check-up.

◆If you cause an accident

＊Help the victim (give first-aid, call an ambulance).

＊Notify the police.

Lost and Found

◆Lost money and valuables

＊If you lose money or valuables, report it as soon as possible to the nearest police box or station.

＊If on public transport (train, taxi) or in a department store, immediately notify the authorities concerned.

＊If a lost article is found and returned, by law you are required to give the finder a reward equivalent to 5 to 20% of its value.

◆For articles left behind in taxis’, buses or subway

Traffic Bureau Inquiry Office (bus) (801-2561

Karasuma-Oike Station, Information Center (subway) (213-1650

Taxi Lost and Found Center (672-1110

◆Lost articles which must be reported

Certificate of Foreign Residents Registration: Receive a “certificate of loss” issuedby the police and report with it to the ward office where you are registered.

Passport: same as above, except report the loss to your Embassy or Consulate.

Credit and / or Cash cards: Immediately notify the appropriate company or bank in order to prevent misuse of the card by another person.

◆On finding a lost article

＊If you find a lost article on the street, report it to the nearest police box or station as soon as possible.

＊If on public transport or in a department store, it is preferable to hand it to the nearest staff member.

＊Be sure to receive a receipt of claimin eithercase.

2-3　Injury and Sudden Illness

Calling for an ambulance (Dial 119)

In case of sudden illness or serious injury, call for an ambulance (Tel. 119). In cases of minor injuries or normal illness, use a taxi or car etc., to get to a hospital or clinic.

When calling for an ambulance, be sure to have the sick or injured person’s information at hand, if possible, such as a health insurance card or hospital/ clinic card when the ambulance arrives.

In case of illness on holidays or at night

Please use hospitals and clinics open outside of normal hours and on Sundays and holidays.

See“Hospitals Open at Night and on Holidays”

2-4　Fire

Fire engine (Dial 119)

If a fire breaks out, shout out to let the neighbors know and contact the fire department to send a fire engine (Dial 119). It is dangerous to try to extinguish a fire alone.

2-5　Earthquakes

Everyday measures

(1) Check where the safest place in your house/apartment is.
(2) Store enough drinking water: 2-3 liters per person per day.
(3) Prepare a rucksack or emergency bag and store it in a place familiar to everyonein the family.

Example of items to put in the rucksack/ emergency bag flashlight, batteries, drinking water and food, money (including some \10 coins for using a public telephone), copies of personal identification such as passports and bankbooks, etc., valuables, matches, lighter and candles, a first-aid kit (those requiring regular medication should not forget it), a helmet or other protective headwear, cotton work gloves, socks and underwear, thermal and waterproof blankets, rope, etc.

(4) Use metal anchors to secure furniture and prevent it from falling over.

(5) Use shatter-prevention film on windows, cupboards, shelves, etc. where glassis used.

(6) Make a note of emergency contact telephone numbers and the phone number, address and other contact details of someone who can communicate in your language.

(7) Confirm where your nearest emergency shelter and hospital are and how to get there. Inquire at your city, ward, town or village office to confirm the whereabouts of your nearest emergency shelter.

Kyoto City Regional Refuge Area http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/bousai_s/html/tisiki/hinanmap.html

When an earthquake happens

(1) Ensure your personal safety and get to the nearest safe place.

(2) Switch off the gas, gas cookers, etc. in use. Switch off all appliances, such as cooking and heating appliances which may cause a fire. If a fire breaks out, extinguish it immediately with the nearest fire extinguisher.

(3) Open all doors, including the front door, to ensure an escape route.

(4) Obtain earthquake information and updates via TV, radio or telephone.

(5) Do not rush out of a building. Wait until the earthquake has temporarily stopped, then get your emergency bag, put on a helmet or other protective head covering and make your way to an open space.

(6) Try not to become separated from family members or neighbors. Check that you are all together and make your way as quickly as possible to a shelter.

(7) If you are driving at the time of an earthquake, avoid sudden braking. Reduce your speed slowly and move over to the left shoulder of the road.

Do not park the car next to a gasoline station or high-pressure gas facility,

norunder a pedestrian bridge.
(8) If you are walking along a wide road, move out to the center. If downtown,

becareful of falling objects such as signs, telegraph poles and glass from windows, etc.

◆After an earthquake

After an earthquake, there is the danger of yoshin(after-shocks) and tsunami (tidal-waves). If possible get accurate information from the radio, newspaper, television, etc. If you find you cannot return to your residence after a big earthquake, inform your country’s embassy or consulate, your place of employment or school of the safety of both you and your family

◆Saigai-yo Dengon Dial Service (Dial 171)

(Telephone message service in times of disaster)

When a disaster occurs, it is often difficult to make telephone calls to the affected area. In such circumstances use the Saigai-yo DengonDial service (telephone message service in times of disaster). People outside the area can listen to recorded messages made by those in the affected area regarding their safety, etc. It is like a voice recorded message board. Similarly, people outside the area can send messages to people in the affected area.
Notification of the introduction of the NTT Saigai-yo DengonDial service will be made on the radio and television, etc. Use the service by dialing 171 and following the guidance in Japanese to record or listen to messages.

◆Multi-language disaster prevention site for mobile telephones

http://josef.jp/

Information concerning safety measures for earthquakes, typhoons and other disasters can be accessed from personal computers and portable telephones. This service is available at no cost. Information is available in 10 languages (English, Chinese, Korean, North Korean dialect, Portuguese, Tagalog, Spanish, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, and simplified Japanese.).

Kyoto City Civic Center for Disaster Prevention http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/bousai_s/html/tisiki/ftisiki.html

2-6　Typhoons and Floods

Being prepared for typhoons and floods

In Japanfrom summer through autumn, there are many typhoons that bring strong winds and torrential rain which can cause landslides and flood damage. To be prepared for such conditions, the following points should be given attention.

(1) Your residence should be fully inspected. In order to keep damage to a minimum, repairs and reinforcements should be carried out.

(2) Window glass, etc. should be reinforced with gum tape or vinyl tape. If there are shutters, they should be closed.

(3) Boxes, flowerpots and other objects in the garden or on the balcony should be fastened or taken into the house to prevent them from being blown around by strong winds.

(4) Television antennas etc. should be reinforced with splints, wire, etc.

(5) Clear drains, shores and water tubs of any dirt and debris to ensure good drainage.

(6) If you live in a lowland area or in an area where flooding is possible, you should position furniture and electrical appliances as high as possible.

(7) In the event of a blackout (electric power failure), have a flashlight, portable radio, etc. in a set place familiar to each member of the family.

(8) Keep things you need to take with you in an emergency in a convenient place.

(9) Confirm where the nearest disaster shelter is and how to get there.

When a typhoon comes

(1) Do not go out in strong winds. If you must go out, wear a helmet or thick hat.

(2) Do not go near fallen utility poles or sagging cables.

(3) Pay close attention to weather forecasts. If a warning to evacuate the area is given, evacuate as quickly as possible. Families with elderly or sick persons or infants should evacuate early.

2-7　Gas Leaks

Incorrectly using natural gas is very dangerous. If you realize there is a gas malfunction, shut off the gas, open a window, and do not under any circumstances light a fire or cause a spark. Do not touch the ventilation fan or any electric switches.

Because propane is heavier than air, disperse it if possible. Contact the nearest gas company even if it is a holiday or night time. In the case of propane gas, contact information is printed on the gas cylinder.

See “Signing up for Water, Electricity and Gas utilities”

2-8　Risai Shomei-sho (Disaster Victim Certificate)

It is necessary to have a Risai Shomei-sho (Disaster Victim Certificate) when applying for tax deductions or a tax reprieve for victims of storms and floods. Application forms for a Risai Shomei-sho may be obtained at each city, ward, town or village office or from a fire department.

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