- 9 - The statistics of the fire and rescue services of the Tokyo Fire Department is as follows: 2014 2013 Plus & Minus (ᇞ) Fires 4,805 (including one in an extraterritorial area) 5,191 (including one in an extraterritorial area) ᇞ386 Burned Areas (m 2 ) 23,478 25,674 ᇞ2,196 Fire Deaths 94 87 7 Injuries 790 781 9 As an example of large scale fires in 2014, there was a building fire in January which started in a three-story amusument center and then spread into the neighboring three buildings. It eventually destroyed four buildings (including the center itself) and burned 656 m 2 . In May, another large fire occurred in a three-story building under construction, which eventually destroyed a total of seven buildings and burned 568 m 2 . As an example of fires involving rescue operations, there was an eight-story restaurant fire in May which burned 357 m 2 . Because of the black smoke blowing out of the third floor, III To Protect Citizens from Disasters
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- 9 -
The statistics of the fire and rescue services of the Tokyo Fire Department is as follows:
2014 2013 Plus & Minus ( ) Fires 4,805 (including one in an
As an example of large scale fires in 2014, there was a building fire in January which
started in a three-story amusument center and then spread into the neighboring three
buildings. It eventually destroyed four buildings (including the center itself) and burned
656 m2. In May, another large fire occurred in a three-story building under construction,
which eventually destroyed a total of seven buildings and burned 568 m2.
As an example of fires involving rescue operations, there was an eight-story restaurant
fire in May which burned 357 m2. Because of the black smoke blowing out of the third floor,
III To Protect Citizens from Disasters
- 10 -
some people escaped to the fifth floor and they were trapped there. The fire unit used the
aerial platform of a ladder truck to rescue them to a safe place.
Infrequent types of fire include a construction platform fire in March. A total of 300 m2
of the platform, which was hung under the Metropolitan Expressway, was burned in this
incident. Another example is a factory fire in May. The fire occurred in the two-story office
of the magnesium alloys manufacturer and eventually burned 1,300 m2 of the building.
Other non-fire disasters include a construction site incident in February. A man was
trapped in an H-beam hole (diameter: 60 cm, depth: 3.5 meters) made for a retaining wall.
The Fire Rescue Task Forces and the Tokyo DMAT cooperated and rescued the person.
Another example is a restaurant incident in July. When the staff used burning charcoal
inside the restaurant, 8 customers claimed that they felt unwell. The fire unit opened the
doors and windows for fresh air and transported the 8 patients to hospitals. Also, as
Emergency Response Teams, 1964 members of the TFD responded to the eruption of mount
Ontake in September (for 21 days in total) and 31 members to the earthquake in Nagano
in November.
Various incidents occur in the metropolitan area. The TFD regularly conducts training simulating
real situations in order to prepare for all kinds of disasters and to provide safety and security for the
Tokyo residents.
- 11 -
Nozzle (improved applicator nozzle)
TOPIC 1
Structural Diagram
Spraying the ground and low areas
Spraying high areas
Example of use to spray in a duct
The inside of ceiling spaces can become a route for the spread of fire, so it is necessary to confirm the presence of fire quickly and spray it with water to prevent the spread of fire.
As a result, the nozzle is used for effective firefighting with a minumum amount of water when fighting fires in enclosed areas such as the inside of ceiling spaces as well as narrow and small areas.
- 12 -
The TFD has 1,951 fire vehicles (excluding vehicles
owned by other agencies), such as pumpers, foam pumpers,
and aerial ladders. The vehicles are deployed as follows.
Fire Vehicles
(As of April 1, 2015)
3-1 Fire Vehicles
The 9th Fire District (8 Fire Stations) Pumpers ······························· 48Foam pumpers ························ 6Aerial ladders ························· 8Rescue trucks (type II) ··············· 4Ambulances ·························· 31Floodlight truck ······················· 1Hazmat truck ·························· 1Firefighting motorcycles ············ 4
Responses to fires, medical emergencies, hazard removal and rescue services are classified as
“ordinary response”, “special response” and “extra response”.
(1) Fires
Ordinary responses Ordinary and large-scale fires in city areas or fires in special buildings are
handled by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th alarm response.
Special responses Special responses are ordered in case of vehicle fires on expressways,
hazardous materials fires and large-scale fires which are difficult to fight
with ordinary alarm responses. Depending on the scale of the fire, the 1st
to 2nd responses are activated, while the 1st to 4th responses are ordered
in case of large-scale disasters such as a large plane crash or a train fire.
Extra responses Extra responses are ordered for the reinforcement of firefighting units, or
the dispatch of the units in response to small-scale fires.
(2) Rescue Service
Extra responses To deal with each rescue incident, rescue units are dispatched to disaster
scenes.
To an automobile collision in anticipation of a medical emergency and a
fire, an EMS ambulance unit and a pump company are dispatched on
receipt of an accident report.
Special responses When a large-scale disaster occurs or is likely to occur, and it is necessary
to dispatch more than one rescue unit at a time, 1st to 3rd alarms are
activated depending on the extent of the disaster.
When a mass-casualty incident occurs and it is necessary to send out more
manpower for the rescue and first aid of the victims, 1st to 4th alarms are
activated depending on the extent of the disaster.
(3) Emergency Medical Services
Ordinary responses To an ordinary medical emergency, an EMS unit is dispatched from the
nearest fire station, based on the GPS system for locating ambulances.
Special responses Upon the receipt of the report of a multi-casualty incident or an incident
which may cause heavy casualties, the Command and Control Center
orders the responses from 1st to 4th alarms depending on the number of
casualties.
Extra responses This is ordered when emergency responders need EMS unit reinforcement
3-2 Response System
- 19 -
or when there are multiple casualties at incident scenes.
(4) Elimination of Hazard
Extra responses In dangerous situations with hazardous materials/gas leaks or chemical
disasters which may cause fires or endanger people’s lives, Fire Rescue
Task Forces, Hazmat Units or other units are dispatched to incident scenes.
(5) Confirmation of the Emergency
Extra responses Rescue units are dispatched to rapidly confirm the situation in the case that
smoke which could be easily confused with a fire is reported or automatic
fire alarm equipment sounds an alarm.
2 Mutual Aid
The Fire Organization Law stipulates that each city, town and village has responsibility to protect
citizens’ lives and property from fires. For the safety of and around municipality borders, there are
mutual-aid systems established between municipalities, with the Article 39 of the Fire Organization
Law as a base. The TFD has mutual-aid agreements with cities, towns and villages in its
neighborhood, and on remote islands. The Department then assists those communities, mobilizing
ground fire apparatus and fire helicopters.
Against incidents in the port of Tokyo, the TFD has a cooperative agreement with the Japan Coast
Guard’s Tokyo Coast Guard Office, and a mutual aid agreement with the fire departments of
Kawasaki, Chiba, Yokohama, and Ichikawa Cities to respond to large-scale disasters that occur in
any of the city’s ports or related coastal facilities.
In case of large-scale disasters such as an earthquake, the TFD dispatches its members of the
Emergency Fire Response Teams to the areas with no mutual-aid agreements concluded, based on
the Article 44 of the Fire Organization Law.
3 Measures to Protect Japanese Citizens
In the Law Concerning the Measures for Protection of the Civilian Population in Armed Attack
Situations (the Citizen Protection Law), it is stipulated that fire service organizations shall protect
Japanese citizens’ lives and property from fires caused by armed attacks, while preventing and
mitigating such disasters.
In addition, the Law requires that city, town or village mayors command municipal government
officials, Fire Chiefs and Volunteer Fire Corps Chiefs to evacuate citizens to safe areas.
The TFD, considering the importance of coordination with other civil protection agencies, joins
the TMG and municipal governments of Tokyo and actively conducts citizens’ protection drills like
evacuation.
- 20 -
The TFD’s participation is based on the Tokyo Fire Department’s Basic Policy on Citizens’
Protection Measures, while the TMG and Tokyo’s municipalities’ efforts are founded on their own
citizens’ protection plans.
4 Tokyo Fire Department’s Basic Guidelines for Citizen Protection Measures
(1) Basic Concept
Protecting citizens and minimizing damage in the event that Tokyo suffers a disaster due to armed
attack or other emergency situation is a grave responsibility assigned to fire protection services.
In order to fulfill this responsibility, the TFD conducts activities including firefighting, assistance,
rescue, and evacuation guidance in disasters, while at the same time ensuring the safety of
firefighters.
Additionally, the TFD works to ensure the safety of Tokyo through comprehensive measures for
protecting citizens, such as strengthening cooperation with the national government, the TMG,
municipal governments and related agencies and obtains sufficient cooperation from citizens and
business establishments.
(2) Basic Plans
Based on the Basic Concept of (1), the TFD has established the following basic measures and
conducts its citizen protection activities based on these.
(A) Establishing a response system
・Measures to strengthen the functions of civil defense headquarters
・Measures for effective use of information
(B) Establishing operational preparedness
・Firefighting operational measures
・Evacuation guidance measures
・Fire company operational measures
・Education and training measures
(C) Assuring community safety
・Providing guidance to business establishments and citizens
- 21 -
Number of Fires in 2014
The number of fires in 2014 was 4,805 (excluding 1 extraterritorial fire), showing a decrease of
386 from 2013.
Of the 4,805 fires, building fires decreased by 267 to 3,002, vehicle fires increased by 63 to 332,
and others decreased by 152 to 1,463.
The fires burned 23,478 m2, a decrease of 2,196 m2 from 2013. The toal fire damage cost was
4,889,800,000 yen, showing a decrease of 1,147,730,000 yen from 2013.
The number of burnt buildings was 3,451, affecting 4,955 people of 2,587 households.
Compared with the previous year, fire deaths increased by 7 to 94, and the number of injured
people increased by 9 to 790.
Number of Fires and Fire Deaths (2010-2014)
Buildings 3,002
(62.5%)
Vehicles 332
(6.9%)
Ships2
(0.04%)
Forests and fields5
(0.1%)
Extraterritorial Fire1
(0.02%)
Others1,463
(30.4%)
Total4,805
(100%)
5,088 5,341 5,089 5,191
4,805
105 84
115 87 94
0
60
120
180
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
(People)(Cases)
Fires
Fatalities
3-3 Fires
- 22 -
1 Fire Investigation
Fire departments are engaged not only in
firefighting but also fire cause/damage
investigations.
The TFD conducts fire investigations under
the power and procedures stipulated in the Fire
Service Law. Fire personnel examine fire
scenes, obtain information from people, make
scientific analysis and identify fire causes.
They further investigate how fire protection
equipment was activated or used, what caused fire spread, and how people were evacuated. The
result of all this is reflected on fire prevention measures for the future.
2 Fire Causes
The biggest fire cause in 2014 was arson. The number of arson was 1,381, decreasing by 241 from
2013 and representing 28.7% (2.5 points smaller than 2013) of all the fires.
Arson was followed by smoking (710, a decrease of 27), gas kitchen stoves (416, a decrease of
2), large gas cookers (110 cases, an increase of 8), and electric heaters (104 cases, a decrease of 1).
Major Fire Causes in 2014
1,381
710416
110 104 76 56 46 45 430
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Arso
n
Smok
ing
Gas
kitche
n stov
es
& ot
hers
Larg
e gas
cooker
s
Elec
tric h
eaters
Play
ing wi
th fir
e
Cand
les
Ciga
rette
lighte
rs
Cord
s
Weld
ing ma
chines
(Fires)
- 23 -
1 TFD’s Rescue System
When the TFD was established in 1948, its rescue service was mainly for saving people from
ordinary building fires. As Japanese industries and economy started developing from the middle
1960's, disasters became more complex and diverse. In 1971, the TFD formed the Rescue Units with
sophisticated rescue techniques and equipment. In 1996, with lessons learned from the Great
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the Fire Rescue Task Forces (“Hyper Rescue”) were formed for the
responses to serious earthquakes and other large-scale disasters.
On the national level, the emergency response assistance systems for Japan and foreign countries
have been reinforced. Specifically, in 1986 rescue units were newly prescribed in a law after the
modification of the Fire Service Law and the Fire Organization Law. In 1987, there was the
enforcement of “the Japan Disaster Relief Team (JDR) Dispatch Law”. In 1995, there was the
modification of the Fire Organization Law for the change to domestic fire protection assistance with
lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Also in 1995, there was the
establishment of “the Emergency Fire Response Teams Activity Outline”. In 2003, with the Fire
Organization Law’s revision, the Emergency Fire Response Teams’ system was prescribed in a law.
The TFD engages in overall rescue operations, mobilizing the Rescue Units, the Fire Rescue Task
3-4 Rescue Operations
- 24 -
Forces, the Mountain Rescue Units, the Water Rescue Units and the Aviation Unit.
The TFD dispatched the Fire Rescue Task Forces and other rescue units to numerous disasters to
conduct rescues and firefighting operations as Emergency Fire Response Teams. They include the
torrential rain calamity in Niigata and Fukushima prefectures in July 2004, the Mid Niigata
Prefecture Earthquake in October 2004, the Iwate and Miyagi Inland Earthquake in June 2008, the
Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, and the eruption of Mount Ontake in September 2014.
The TFD's rescue members who are registered as members of the International Rescue Team of
Japan (IRT-JF) are sent to disaster-stricken countries when those countries request the Japanese
Government for assistance. They contribute internationally to lifesaving, making full use of the
latest technology.
The TFD’s members of the IRT-JF have responded to overseas disasters 19 times so far. They
were dispatched to the earthquake-stricken areas in Sichuan Province of China in May, 2008, in
Sumatra, Indonesia in October 2009, in the southern island of New Zealand in February 2011, and
in Nepal in April 2015, making dedicated efforts to save lives.
2 Activities of Rescue Units
For ordinary rescue in fires and other incidents, pump units respond from fire stations nearest to
an incident scene. To devastating incidents, specially-trained Rescue Units members with expertise
are dispatched. In case of large-scale disasters such as big earthquakes, building collapses and
landslides, the Fire Rescue Task Forces are mobilized.
In cooperation with the Aviation Unit, the Water Rescue Units respond to water accidents in
Tokyo Bay and rivers, and the Mountain Rescue Units to mountain accidents.
3 Firefighters’ Safety Management
With disasters becoming more complicated, more dangerous and harder for firefighters to fight,
on-scene firefighters’ safety management is more important today.
Fire ground operations must be achieved safely and effectively. For the enhancement of the safety
management mentioned above, the TFD actively promotes the improvement of safety devices and
protective gear for firefighters and the improvement and enhancement of the safety management
system for firefighters at the scene of an accident through the activities of emergency responders.
- 25 -
Deployment of Rescue Units (As of April 1, 2015) Fire District Fire Station Name
1st Kojimachi Kojimachi Rescue Unit
Shiba Shiba Rescue Unit 2nd Kamata Kuko Rescue Unit
3rd Meguro Meguro Rescue Unit Setagaya Setagaya Rescue Unit
4th Shinjuku Shinjuku Rescue Unit Suginami Suginami Rescue Unit
5th Toshima Toshima Rescue Unit
6th Adachi Adachi Rescue Unit Ueno Ueno Rescue Unit
7th
Joto Joto Rescue Unit Honden Honden Rescue Unit
Edogawa Edogawa Rescue Unit Fukagawa Fukagawa Rescue Unit
8th Musashino Musashino Rescue Unit
Higashikurume Higashikurume Rescue Unit Fuchu Fuchu Rescue Unit
9th
Hachioji Hachioji Rescue Unit Machida Machida Rescue Unit
Ome Ome Rescue Unit Tama Tama Rescue Unit
10th Itabashi Itabashi Rescue Unit Nerima Nerima Rescue Unit Shakujii Shakujii Resucue Unit
Fire Rescue Task Forces (As of April 1, 2015) Fire District Name
2nd 2nd District Fire Rescue Task Forces 3rd 3rd District Fire Rescue Task Forces 6th 6th District Fire Rescue Task Forces 8th 8th District Fire Rescue Task Forces 9th 9th District Fire Rescue Task Forces
Water Rescue Units (As of April 1, 2015) Fire District Fire Station Name
1st Nihonbashi Hamacho Water Rescue Unit
Rinko Rinko Water Rescue Unit 2nd Omori Omori Water Rescue Unit 6th Adachi Ayase Water Rescue Unit 7th Koiwa Koiwa Water Rescue Unit 8th Chofu Chofu Water Rescue Unit
Mountain Rescue Units (As of April 1, 2015) Fire District Fire Station Name
9th
Hachioji Hachioji Mountain Rescue Unit Ome Ome Mountain Rescue Unit
Akigawa Akigawa Mountain Rescue Unit Okutama Okutama Mountain Rescue Unit
- 26 -
4 Rescue Responses
The number of the rescue runs in 2014 was 22,500. Compared with the figure of the year 2013,
the number of rescue runs decreased by 657.
By type of response, fires, gas, and flight accidents increased compared to the year before, while
buildings & structures, traffic accidents, water accidents, accidents involving machinery, falls,
Note: The number of receiving hospitals is as of April 1 of the next year
- 29 -
1 EMS Units
An EMS unit is made up of an officer, an attendant and a driver, while an EMS helicopter crew
is made up of an officer and two medical service members.
EMS personnel assess a patient's condition quickly on an incident scene, perform appropriate care
such as CPR and stanching of blood, and transport the patient to the nearest hospital best suited for
him/her.
Besides the requisite training for qualified EMS personnel, more sophisticated training and
hospital practices are provided for them in accordance with the progress of emergency medical
technologies.
Deployment of EMS Units (As of April 1, 2015)
Places
23 Wards Fire Service Entrusting Areas Total
Fire Stations
Fire Station
Branches Total
Fire Stations
Fire Station
BranchesTotal
Fire Stations
Fire Station
Branches Total
Number of EMS Units
63 106 169 25 46 71 88 152 240
Deployment of EMS Helicopters Places Large craft Mid-sized craft Total
Number 4 4 8
*Including one mid-sized helicopter of the Ministry of International Affairs and Communications
2 EMS Treatment
The main treatments by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are artificial respiration, cardiac
massage, blood stanching, fracture immobilization, oxygen delivering, warm body temperature
maintenance, etc. Advanced EMTs can perform such treatments as the maintenance of the airway
with a nasal airway, the removal of a foreign object with a laryngoscope and forceps, and blood
pressure maintenance with medical anti-shock trousers.
Paramedics conduct defibrillation with AED on cardiac arrest patients, maintain the IV line with
lactic Ringer solution, and keep non-breath patients’ airways open using laryngeal tubes.
For greater lifesaving performance, paramedics now conduct medical treatment more extensively
than in the past. Since April in 2003, they have performed defibrillation in accordance with a
protocol, based on a doctor’s general instructions. Endotrachael intubation was started in July 2004,
cardiotonic (adrenaline) administration began in April 2006, and the use of an adrenaline
(epinephrine) autoinjector became possible in March 2009. Since April 2014, paramedics have been
able to establish venous access in pre-cardiac arrest patients, perform fluid infusions, measure blood
sugar, and provide glucose solutions in cases of hypoglycemic attack.
- 30 -
Acute illness490,93664.8%
Common injuries130,66217.2%
Traffic accidents55,2197.3%
80,73710.6%
Total757,554100.0
3 EMS Activities
Ambulance Runs in 2014
The number of the ambulance runs in 2014 was 757,554 or a 1.1% increase from the previous
year. This means that one out of 17 residents used ambulance service in Tokyo. On the average,
EMS units made 2,075 runs per day, or one EMS unit made 8.8 runs per day.
By incident type, acute illnesses were the greatest in number, with 490,936 runs or 64.8% of the
total.
On the other hand, our EMS helicopters made 430 responses. The TFD will reinforce its helicopter
transport system to save more patients and lessen their aftereffects by swift transport.
4 Cooperation of Pumpers and Ambulances
The “Fire Quick Aid” system was started on April 1, 2000 to save victims quickly in accidents in
high-rise buildings, underground facilities, small areas, etc. In this system, pump units are
dispatched at the same time as EMS units to incident scenes. The Fire Quick Aid responses in 2014
reached 161,951.
AED defibrillators came into fire department use in July 2004. Since then, pumper personnel have
been trained for AED manipulation. AED defibrillators are now unexceptionally found in fire
stations and fire station branches.
Pump units respond to emergency medical scenes in the following cases:
○ [On the telephone] The patient seems to need immediate rescue and/or treatment due to his/her
serious damage.
○ Victim transportation seems to be difficult by an EMS unit only.
○ [In a case of bodily injury] Victims and ambulance members need to be protected.
Inter-hospital patient transfer 42,366 (5.6%)
Assault 7,882 (1.0%)
Suicide 5,609 (0.7%)
Labor accidents 4,868 (0.6%)
Sports 5,203 (0.7%)
Fires 3,330 (0.4%)
Equipment transport 536 (0.1%)
Water accidents 1,073 (0.1%)
Doctor transport 259 (0.0%)
Natural disasters 44 (0.0%)
Others 9,567 (1.3%)
Others
* Since figures are rounded off, the total may not match the sum of each figure.
- 31 -
○ [An EMS response to a “challenging” busy area] An emergency response is made to the location
and at the time specified by a fire station chief.
○ [In the vicinity of a fire station (branch)] There is a victim involved in an emergency medical
incident, who needs immediate rescue.
○ [In the case where there seems to be a prolonged delay in the arrival of an EMS unit]
There is a victim who needs immediate rescue/EMS.
5 Use of Cellular Phones (inc. PHS) to Collect Patient Information
Cellular phones (including PHS devices) started to be used by on-the-run EMS personnel in April
2002 to collect information on patients from the people concerned at incident scenes and/or from
the patients’ families. This facilitates the effectiveness of EMS units’ lifesaving activities and
bystanders’ successful performances with advice given to them over the phone, and also helps
patients and their families feel relieved with ongoing ambulance activities being told to them.
6 Coordination with Emergency Medical Facilities
From April 14, 2002, EMS crews have received information on sick and injured people and given
verbal guidance on first-aid treatment to people nearby over wireless phones (PHS, etc.) while en
route, in order to make life-saving after their arrival more effective. In addition to improving the
effectiveness of first aid, this also provides the sense of security of knowing that the ambulance is
on its way to the sick or injured person and their family, etc.
On August 31, 2009, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced “The Tokyo Rules for
Emergency Medical Care” to provide prompt and efficient medical services to emergency patients.
One of the Rules is the introduction of the Emergency Patients Admission Coordinators. They are
part-time employees of the Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health assigned to the TFD’s
Command and Control Center. In cases where all hospitals in one region refuse admission of
emergency patients, these coordinators intervene and look for a hospital outside that region
throughout Tokyo.
The Tokyo Rules for Emergency Medical Care is a system operated by the TMG’s Bureau of
Social Welfare and Public Health, the Tokyo Medical Association and the Tokyo Fire Department
to solve the difficulty of finding hospitals for emergency patients.
The TFD coordinates closely with Critical Care Medical Centers and other medical facilities
through direct telephone lines. It gathers the latest information on the availability of emergency
hospitals and on-duty hospitals after hours through computer terminals. The information is provided
to responding EMS units for the selection of hospitals, or provided to citizens and medical facilities
on request.
- 32 -
Medical advisors (doctors) are stationed at the TFD HQ Command and Control Center and the
Tama Command and Control Center each. They give medical instructions and advice to field EMS
units. As of April 1, 2015, as many as 277 doctors from 34 medical facilities are registered for this
purpose.
Types of Emergency Hospitals (As of April 1, 2015)
317 Hospitals 7 Clinics
Tot
al
National and Public Hospitals
Pri
vate
Mun
icip
al
Oth
er
Nat
iona
l
TM
G
Inde
pend
ent
Adm
inis
trat
ive
Inst
itut
ion
Mun
icip
al
Japa
n R
ed
Cro
ss
Oth
er
15 7 1 10 3 2 279 1 6 324
7 Appropriate Use of Ambulance Services
Ambulance runs continued to rise, reaching a record high of 757,554 runs in 2014, and staying at
a high level.
The time from turnout to arrival on scene was 7 minutes and 54 seconds in 2014, exactly the same
time as the previous year.
In the future, as the aging of the population advances and the number of ambulance runs may
increase for unnecessary or non-emergency reasons, the response time may well increase and leave
savable lives unattended.
To address this problem, the TFD carries out various measures to send ambulances appropriately
and effectively to those who need their services most. It calls on citizens to use ambulance services
correctly according to the rules. It provides hospital information websites, and encourages citizens
to use the services of the Tokyo Private Ambulance Call Center, which introduces non-emergency
transport services to hospitals for a fee.
8 Emergency Telephone Consultation Center in the Tokyo Fire Department
The Emergency Telephone Consultation Center in the
Tokyo Fire Department accepts inquiries from persons who
are not sure whether they should call an ambulance or go
to hospital on their own. The team of a physician, nurses
and former EMT’s answer such inquiries on a 24-hour
basis throughout the year.
At the Center, a team of physicians, nurses and former
EMT’s answer such inquiries on a 24-hour basis
throughout the year. Furthermore, the Center provides the
- 33 -
Tokyo EMS Guide by which users can confirm the urgency of the situation and whether it is
necessary to go to a medical institution using a computer, mobile telephone, or smartphone.
The Council examines the Center’s work performance and protocols, and discusses better
management system, so that it can ensure quality services to residents.
◇Telephone Numbers of the Emergency Telephone Consultation Center
Category Emergency Telephone Consultation Center
23-ward area #7119
03-3212-2323
Tama area 042-521-2323
◇Tokyo EMS Guide URL
Category Tokyo EMS Guide
Computer and smartphone URL http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/hp-kyuuimuka/guide/main/
Mobile phone URL http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/hp-kyuuimuka/guide/m/00kiyaku.html
9 Patient’s Triage before EMS Transport
The TFD conducts the ambulance teams’ triage on scene. On arriving an incident scene,
ambulance crew assess the patient’s condition based on the triage standard sheet for transport. If
urgency is not recognized, they request the patient to visit the hospital on his/her own if they agree,
although the ambulance crew give them first-aid advice and hospital information.
10 Promulgation of First-Aid Skills
First aid given by a bystander before the arrival of an ambulance is crucial for the survival of a
victim. To be skilled in first aid is very important for citizens to help each other in a mass-casualty
incident such as an earthquake. The TFD works hard to familiarize citizens with first-aid knowledge
and techniques.
From January 2012, a 90-minute first aid introduction course and a step-up system for advanced
courses were started by way of the new training system resulting from a revision to the JRC
resuscitation guidelines.
The TFD entrusts part of its first-aid training programs to the Tokyo Emergency First-Aid
Association (a public interest incorporated foundation).
In addition, training courses are given to private ambulance service providers and private sector
emergency responders taking action with an automatic emergency reporting system.
- 34 -
Main Courses of First-Aid Training
Course for Life Saving
3 hours Standard First-Aid Course
Adult CPR, AED, first aid for choking, stanching and others 4 hours
Standard First-Aid Course (for AED Operators)
2⅓ hrs Standard First-Aid Retraining Course
2 hours Standard First-Aid Step-Up Course
A course for persons who have attended the “introductory first aid course” within the last 12 months and who wish toobtain first aid skills certification.
Course for Life Saving and Injury Treatment
8 hours Advanced First-Aid Course
CPR for adults/children/infants, AED, injury treatment, patient management and transportation (The contents of AED Operator’s Course are included.)
3 hours Advanced First-Aid Retraining Course
5 hours Advanced First Aid Step-Up Course
A course for persons who have attended the “regular first aid course” or “regular first aid refresher course” within the last 12 months and who wish to obtain first aid skills certification.
Course for First-Aid Instructor
24 hours First-Aid Instructor’s Course
For company employees to be qualified as first-aid instructors
3 hours First-Aid Instructor’s Retraining Course
The organizations to contact for related training courses are the Tokyo Disaster Prevention &
Emergency Medical Service Association, fire stations, fire station divisions and fire station branches.
11 Conveyance of “Life-Is-Priceless” Messages to Junior / Senior High School Students
Based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s revolutionary measure, the TFD has been
conveying the “Life-Is-Priceless” messages to junior and senior high school students since July 1,
2002.
For message conveyance, the TFD personnel including paramedics visit schools and tell students
about their major rescue experiences so that the students can have a deep understanding of the
importance of life safety and teamwork. This activity helps “next-generation” young people attain
sound physical and spiritual growth, and leads to the effective first aid education for bystanders.
In 2014, the TFD gave first-aid lectures/courses (with certificate) to 34,486 junior high school
students (314 schools) and 24,620 high school students (185 schools). It also gave flexible first-aid
training to 24,060 junior and senior high school students (141 schools).
12 Guidance and Certification to Private Non-Emergency Ambulance Services for Patients
Private ambulance services are for the non-emergency transfer of patients between hospitals, the
transportation of people for hospitalization/discharge, the convenience for outpatients, etc. Private
ambulance service providers assist people with bed-, or wheelchair-provided ambulances. The
demands for the services continue to rise highly in an aging society.
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The TFD worked on the legalization of the system to certify private ambulance providers and
display their names. This system was successfully adopted as an ordinance on October 1, 2007. It
specifies the certification procedures, the responsibilities of the certifying body, how to display
certification, how to announce providers’ names, performance report details and their review.
Providers fulfilling certain standards are certified as “TFD Licensed Private Non-Emergency
Ambulance Provider”. As of the end of March 2015, 220 companies (243 workplaces with 340
ambulances) are certified as such.
Previous to this legalization, the Tokyo Private Ambulance Call Center was established in the
Tokyo Emergency First-Aid Association in April 2005 to promote proper use of fire department’s
ambulance services. This Center keeps the update on the availability of private ambulances to
provide an integrated information service to citizens. In September 2005, the Center started the
Support Cab (Taxi) system for users who are able to walk on their own.
In March 2006, the Coordinating Council for the Member Providers of the Tokyo Private
Ambulance Call Center was established. The TFD concluded “the Agreement on Disaster Victim
Transportation” with the Council and takes measures for mass-casualty incidents which require a
large number of transporting vehicles including ambulances.
13 First Aid Encouragement Program
Prompt and appropriate first aid by bystanders present at the scene
of the emergency is crucial in saving more lives.
In addition to building effective first-aid systems at offices, shopping
districts, and town and neighborhood associations (hereafter, “offices”)
and increasing the capacity for independent first-aid, it is necessary for
workers to proactively attend life-saving courses in order to ensure the
safety of visitors and local residents.
Against this background, the TFD aims to realize an even safer
society through issuing a Certificate of the Excellent Completion of a
First-Aid Course to offices that continue to be proactive in taking life-
saving courses and contribute to the development of a region in which residents can live with peace
of mind.
As of the end of March 2015, the TFD has issued the Certificate of the Excellent Completion of
a First-Aid Course to 1,212 offices.
[Details of the system]
1 Organizations subject to issuance of a certificate of excellence
Offices (limited to those with 20 and more employees), shopping districts, town and
neighborhood associations, educational institutions, chain stores with certain business formats
that handle the same types of items, and other organizations that the TFD EMS Division Chief
recognizes as having the potential to contribute to society in the TFD service area
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2 Conditions for issuance
Offices at which there is a person with first-aid training or a first-aid instructor present and active
in promoting first-aid training, and which meet the following conditions.
(1) Offices: 30% or more of all employees have completed a first-aid course that is within its
term of validity.
(2) Shopping districts: 30% or more of all shops in the shopping district have at least one
employee who has completed a first-aid course that is within its term of
validity.
(3) Town and neighborhood associations: 30% or more of all households in the town or
neighborhood associations have at least one member who has completed a
first-aid course that is within its term of validity.
(4) Other organizations: 30% or more of all members have completed a first-aid course that is
within its term of validity.
3 Publication of offices issued with a certificate of excellence
In order to make residents aware of safe and secure offices, promote the status of such, and
further increase awareness, the names of offices issued with a certificate are published on the
TFD website and on the TFD Twitter and Facebook pages.
4 Issuance of the Excellency Mark
In combination with the current Certificate of the Excellent Completion of
a First-Aid Course, the TFD will deliver an Excellency Mark, which the
offices issued with a certificate of excellence may display at their
discretion.
14 First Aid Service Award
The award is intended to seek entries from the offices and so on that are working to establish first
aid systems to respond to emergency situations, commend effective measures, broadly publicize
successful cases, and enhance relief capabilities in communities.
(1) Eligible organizations
Organizations (offices, shopping districts, towns and neighbourhood associations, educational
institutions) that have received the Excellency Marks under the first-aid encouragement program
(2) Entry topics
a. Measures to encourage first aid courses in order to develop first aid systems
b. Measures to reinforce the collaboration between offices, etc. and the local community
(3) Screening
Screening will be conducted by the Tokyo First Aid Promotion Council.
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(4) Awarding
To be conducted during the Emergency Medical Service Week.
15 Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s First Aid Promotion Council
In March 2005 the EMS Service Social Association of the Tokyo Fire Department, an advisory
group to the Fire Chief, proposed in its 25th report the establishment of the Tokyo First-Aid
Promotion Council for the effective spread of first aid education. Based on this proposal the Council
was established in July 2005 with the participation of 21 public and private bodies, including the
TFD and the Japanese Red Cross Society. (25 bodies as of March 31, 2015)
The Council aims at 1) 50% percent performance rate of bystander CPR among the cardiac arrest
patients, and 2) promote information on how to use the AED to 20% (2.24 million people) of the 15
to 69 age group of the daytime population of Tokyo. An agreement was made among the members
of the Council to work to attain this goal.
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TOPIC 2
To establish an environment where foreign nationals, who are expected to
increase in numbers in the leadup to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic
Games, can make use of ambulence services with peace of mind, the operation
of English-using EMS units began on April 1, 2014.
☆ English-Using EMS Units
English-using EMS units are the EMS units that have ambulance attendants
with English-language skills* to assess the condition of foreign patients, deal
with other concerned persons and appropriately and quickly transport foreign
patients. * English-language skills mean the English skills necessary to perform emergency activities and to deal with foreign patients according to foreign practices and so on.
☆ Assignment of ambulance attendants with English-language skills
Ambulance attendants with English-language skills are assigned to 13 units
at 8 stations in regions with high percentages of foreign nationals. The
program will be expanded in the leadup to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
容態把握等
関係者等への対応
Appropriate and rapid transportation
Tokyo, where foreign
residents can feel at
ease
Foreign Patient
English-using ambulance attendant
Response and treatment in English
Dealing with others
Overview of English-Using EMS Units
Fire station EMS units Fire station EMS units
Marunouchi Marunochi EMS Unit Kamata Airport EMS Unit
Kyobashi Kyobashi and Ginza EMS Units Shibuya Shibuya No. 1 & No. 2 EMS
Units
Rinko Tsukishima EMS Unit Shinjuku Okubo, Nishishinjuku No. 1 and
Nishishinjuku No. 2 EMS Units
Shiba Shiba EMS Unit Fukagawa Ariake & Toyosu EMS Units
Assessing condition
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1 Removal of Hazards
This includes the prevention of fires and the mitigation of human damage in case of spills of
hazardous materials or materials with hazardous properties such as NBC materials (nuclear,
biological or chemical), and the removal of natural phenomena-caused hazards.
In 2014, TFD units attended to 5,432 incidents
to remove hazards. This includes 1,989 hazardous
materials incidents (36.6%), 748 gas incidents
(13.8%), and 240 (4.4%) incidents caused by the
inappropriate use of fire.
In Tokyo there are tens of thousands of
hazardous materials facilities which store or
handle hazardous materials or materials with
hazardous NBC properties. These hazardous chemicals are transported in large amounts by trucks.
In order to cope with hazardous material or NBC material disasters, the TFD deploys the 3rd and
9th District Fire Rescue Task Forces, and nine Hazmat Units in fire stations. These teams are
equipped with various Hazmat equipment including mass-spectrometers and staffed by crew who
have completed special courses on hazardous materials and materials with NBC properties. Further,
the TFD has formed an on-scene advisory system in which an agreement was made with hazardous
materials specialists (including toxic, corrosive, and radioactive materials, etc.) to obtain their
10th Fire District Shimura Shimurasakaue Hazmat Unit
2 Flood Emergencies
In Tokyo there are 127 large and small rivers, and sea-level lowland areas. 821 places are
designated as the Flood Protection Hazardous Areas (in case of rivers managed by the Land,
Infrastructure and Transportation Ministry) and the Important Flood Protection Places (in case of
rivers managed by the TMG), since such places have a high risk of inundation once a flood or high
tide occurs.
Fortunately Tokyo has not suffered major flood damage like river bank collapses since 1975, but
it has much more “urban flooding” with small-, and medium-sized rivers overflowing banks, and
low-lying ground becoming inundated.
From the time the Meteorological Agency reports to the TFD the coming of an abnormal weather
such as typhoons or heavy rains, the TFD keeps close watch on the changes of weather conditions
including the route of a typhoon and rainfalls. If flood is imminent, the Department places its
personnel on the alert to prepare against emergencies.
The TFD also obtains information on the weather and the water level of the rivers from the TMG’s
Disaster Information System and the Meteorological Agency’s Disaster Weather Information
System, so that early warning and response alert can be issued to fire stations.
Depending on weather conditions or the extent of flood damage, the TFD issues the Flood Alert
or the Flood Red Alert, and calls back off-duty personnel and volunteer fire corps members to be on
the alert.
(1) Flood Alert
This is issued in the following circumstances to have fire personnel gather flood information and
be prepared against possible disasters.
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Issued by Criteria for issuing
Fire Suppression Deputy Division Chief
1. It is necessary to enhance information collection because a typhoon is heading towards the eastern part of Japan.
2. A tsunami alert is announced for the Tokyo Bay area. 3. It is necessary to enhance information collection because of weather conditions or
other events.
Fire District Chief
1. It is necessary to enhance information collection because a heavy rain or flood alert is announced for the area of jurisdiction.
2. It is necessary to enhance information collection because of weather conditions or other events.
Fire Unit Commander
1. A heavy rainfall or flood alert is announced for the area of jurisdiction. 2. It is necessary to enhance information collection because of weather conditions or
other events.
(2) Flood Response Alert
This is issued in the following circumstances to summon off-duty personnel and volunteer fire
corps members to get them ready for disasters.
Alerts Issued by the Commander of Fire Suppression Headquarters
Type of deployment
Criteria for issuing Deployed personnel
Flood Response Alert Phase 1
1. A typhoon is heading towards the eastern part of Japan; or a high tide alert is announced for the Tokyo area and damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. A large tsunami alert is announced for the Tokyo Bay area.
3. Damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to weather conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters and the necessary firefighters working at time of the alert
Flood Response Alert Phase 2
1. A typhoon is heading towards the Kanto area; or a high tide or hurricane alert is announced and significant damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. Significant damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to weather conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters as well as a third of off-duty firefighters and the required number of volunteer firefighters
Flood Response Alert Phase 3
1. A typhoon is heading towards the Kanto area; or a high tide or hurricane alert is announced, and large-scale damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. A heavy rain emergency warning, a storm surge emergency warning or a storm emergency warning is issued for any of the municipalities under the jurisdiction of the TFD.
3. Large-scale damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to weather conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters as well as a half of off-duty firefighters and necessary number of volunteer firefighters
Flood Response Alert Phase 4
1. A heavy rain emergency warning or a storm surge emergency warning is issued for the whole jurisdiction of the TFD.
2. Severe damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to weather conditions or other events.
All firefighters and volunteer firefighters
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Alerts which can be issued by Fire District Commanders
Type of
deployment Criteria for issuing Deployed personnel
Flood Response
Alert Phase 1
1. A heavy rain or flood alert is announced for the area of
jurisdiction and damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. Damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to
inundation from ruptured water pipes or floodgate
malfunction, etc.
3. Damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to weather
conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters
and the necessary
number of firefighters
working at time of the
alert
Flood Response
Alert Phase 2
1. A heavy rain or flood alert or landslide damage alert
information is announced for the area of jurisdiction and
significant damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. Significant damage is occurring or is likely to occur due
to inundation from rising or overflowing rivers, ruptured
water pipes or floodgate malfunction, etc.
3. Severe damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to
weather conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters as
well as the required
number of off-duty
firefighters and
volunteer firefighters
Alerts which can be issued by Fire Station Chiefs
Type of
deployment Criteria for issuing Deployed personnel
Flood Response
Alert Phase 1
1. A heavy rain or flood alert is announced for the area of
jurisdiction and damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. Damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to
inundation from ruptured water pipes or floodgate
malfunction, etc.
3. Damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to weather
conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters
and the necessary
number of firefighters
working at time of the
alert
Flood Response
Alert Phase 2
1. A heavy rain or flood alert or landslide damage alert
information is announced for the area of jurisdiction and
significant damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
2. Significant damage is occurring or is likely to occur due
to inundation from rising or overflowing rivers, ruptured
water pipes or floodgate malfunction, etc.
3. Severe damage is occurring or is likely to occur due to
weather conditions or other events.
On-duty firefighters as
well as the required
number of off-duty
firefighters and
volunteer firefighters
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3 Flood Control Activities
In 2014, the TFD issued Flood Alert 15 times,
Flood Red Alert Phase One 12 times and Flood
Red Alert Phase Two (fire district level and fire
station level) 5 times and conducted flood
control. The following chart shows the flood
damage and the TFD’s control activities. A total
of 2,391 firefighters (including volunteer fire
corps members) responded for the mitigation of
the flood damage.
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Flood emergencies within the TFD service area (In 2014)
June 6-8 June 9-10 June 24: 1 June 24: 2 June 25 June 29-30 July 10-11 July 20-21 July 24-25 July 27 Aug 9-11 Sep 10 Sep 11 Oct 5-6 Oct 13-14