Accidents in Japan

[InspectorGadget]

Hey All,

I never want to have a road accident in Japan after last night

My partner and I were driving home along a busy road at about just after 9pm last night. Passing an intersection, I saw a mangled scooter and a guy standing over the mess looking over it with a large van parked nearby. It was obvious that an accident had occured just seconds before.

Mr partner turned our car around and we went back for a closer look and to see if we could help. When we got back, there were about 4-5 people standing around (including the other diver who was involded). They had put a blanket over the scooter rider to keep him warm and called an ambo, but that was about it.

However, it was obvious that:

1) No one had first First Aid training, or if they did, they weren't using it.

2) No one had assessed the scooter rideres injuries, nor had they assessed whether there were any injuries/conditions that were immediately life threatening.

3) No one had taken control of the situation.

4) No one had done anything about the traffic that was roaring past at about 80km/h less than 2m from the accident scene and was showering the victim/us with debris and wreckage.

5) There was a 'committee meeting' taking place.

In fact, when I did assess him, I found the the idiots that put the blanket over him completely failed to notice that he was choking on his twisted jacket . . . . (and he wasn't wearing a helmet when he had the accident either . . . . . so you can guess the type of rider I'm talking about).

Then the ambo showed up.

For those of you who don't know, ambulance services in Japan are little more than medical taxis, picking up broken bodies in one place and ferrying them to the hospital. There is extremely little in the way of treatment that goes on inside them.

Not only did they NOT assess the patient, other than a "Hello can you hear me?". They didn't even lift the blanket off him to have a look at the rest of his body before deciding to move him. Even then, there was nothing in the way of restraining equipment (neck brace, back board) fitted prior to moving. Just 3 elderly ambulance men picked him up and put him on a gurney.

So the lesson here is, don't have an accident in Japan, get first aid training, and encourage others to get first aid training.

IG

PS Does anyone know where I can buy an emergency road flare?

[Demon Dave]

shocking...but at the same time, not surprising either. I've seen more than enough accidents here and agree with you completely. Then to top it all off, when the injured are finally loaded on the ambulance, most times they "cruise" to the hospital, never exceeding the posted speed limits!

I've seen regular cars overtaking ambulances with sirens blazing and lights flashing as they cruise down the road...

it's nothing like the UK, where the Ambo drivers certainly put their foot down and haul ass!

[DaiOni]

not surprising at all

Not too long ago there was a scooter accident outside my house. The rider veered off the road and into a light pole (given the conditions, I'd have to assume he was most likely drunk).

He didn't even get a blanket. A few bystanders came and peered over at him. Then had the same sort of group commitee.*

The cops arrived - dragged the poor bugger off the edge of the road. Then the ambo arrived (luckily the hospital is very near my house) - and he got literally chucked onto a stretcher. Between the actions of the cops and the ambo guys, I sure as hell hope the guy didn't have any spinal damage! I was stunned.

Of course, after the accident comes the cruel world of the japanese insurance system...

* admitedly we didn't venture out either - but, at the time, I couldn't see how we could help at all (with 4-5 people on the scene already, and not expecting the level of incompetence)

[DCD]

Jeez...what do you expect?...just a bunch of farmers running the show!! Just look at the aid they provided after the Nigata quakes for example...absolutety pathetic for a first world country to be so behind in so many important sectors. If a whole country can't put a first aid team together for a natural disaster what makes you think a local ambulance/first aid service is gonna be any better? Makes me so angry sometimes I just wished they opened their eyes and figure important stuff out. And if they can't they should copy it from other countries since they seem to be so good at stuff like that:D

And yes I'm in a "hate-Japan" kind of week right now! Thank God I'm leaving next week for a breather:D

[Laurence]

I remember the Daijiro Kato MotoGP accident at Suzuka...

I was horrified when I saw a marshall lift and "plonk" him onto a stretcher! Must have dropped him a good 30cm. He had serious injuries to his head, neck and chest and while I think he was pretty much dead anyway it was not really the nicest way to work with him.

Anyway, I guess that is just the way they do it over there.

Like IG says... DON'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN JAPAN!

[Evo_Lee]

Yes, it is rather tragic...but IG do you really have to spell it out.

This could also be just one case...with the pedestrians not doing anything.

In a country so prone to natural disasters and so many emergency workers, I'm sure most people would know what to do.

[InspectorGadget]

Yes, it is rather tragic...but IG do you really have to spell it out.

This could also be just one case...with the pedestrians not doing anything.

In a country so prone to natural disasters and so many emergency workers, I'm sure most people would know what to do.

Unfortunately, this isn't first time I have seen this kind of thing happen. And for the second time running I was apalled at the level of involvement of the people who were there, and secondly by the 3rd world treatment he got from the ambo guys. Just from the responses of the others on this board, I'm sure that this isn't just a once off.

This may be a country prone to natural disasters, however, it also has shockingly low rates of people who are trained in First Aid. Or if they are trained, they're certainly VERY reluctant to put what they've learned into practice.

[Rezz]

Guys Guys!!!

Remember, Japanese people need a Leader! They won't do anything on their own accord otherwise!

I should know, I've had a hand in sacking 25 Japanese receptionists in the last 3 years!

[drunkenmaster]

Well if you look not too far back in history, actually treating the seriously wounded is already a big improvement...but i fear i am on the verge of making politically incorrect statements very soon. But then again, if they thought like westerners thought and viewed people like westerners viewed people I doubt they would have turned a poor country plagued with malnutrition into the second largest economy in the world in record time.

I think I need to stop now...

[Evo_Lee]

IG really, you generalise too much!

[Evo_Lee]

And yes I'm in a "hate-Japan" kind of week right now!

Must also be the same for IG

[DCD]

Must also be the same for IG

Trust me ....after almost 12 years in Japan you get these kind of days/weeks/months (just like any other country in the world! Don't come and tell me you love everything about Japan...if you do you are the typical foreigner that has lived here a few years and has yet to notice the small things! I was just like this for the first 3-4). But IG isn't generalizing IMO I've seen what he is referring to far too many times.

Yep Japan has surely pulled its self out of big trouble after the war (even if they went looking for trouble still on a high from past invasions) and turned the country around like no other could but this still doesn't mean they have sorted out every small detail... They still don't realize the importance of dental care for example:D

[InspectorGadget]

No, Evo_lee, I'm not having a 'hate Japan' week. Nor am I generalising. I am reporting back on my first hand experiences with emergency situations in Japan.

And I maintain that the ambulance services here are not what you'd expect from a 1st world country such as Japan. I was also expressing my opinion that most Japanese people are extremely reluctant to render assistance in emergency situations, and rarely have they been trained in First Aid.

IG

[Rezz]

I'm sure Japanese know 1st aid and rudimentary accident scene proceedures... it's just that they can't INITIATE.

They need a higher ranking person around to "guide" them into action.

I can see it now:

"Kare wo tasukete agemashouka?"

"Hai, douzo"

"Iie, saki ni douzo"

"Douzo"

"ii-e douzo"

"douzo-douzo"...

[Demon Dave]

if it wasn't so serious, the above lines would make a great comedy sketch...you can see it now, an injured rider, lying on the road following an accident, moaning out loud while a group of bystanders for a committee and take a vote on who's going to ask him: "Are you alright?"

I regularly go through "I hate Japan" phases...though, they're usually short lived. In most cases spending a little time on the GTROC (and reading about all the cars stolen etc) is enough to lift my mood and remind me that Japan aint all bad...

and their race queens are rather nice too

[InspectorGadget]

you can see it now, an injured rider, lying on the road following an accident, moaning out loud while a group of bystanders for a committee and take a vote on who's going to ask him: "Are you alright?"

Naaaah! They'd janken to see who should ask.

:jester:

IG

[Evo_Lee]

Trust me ....after almost 12 years in Japan you get these kind of days/weeks/months (just like any other country in the world!  

Exactly, which is why I don't see the point of this thread at all. If it was a newbie sure enough this may come as a surprise to them. But having had past post with IG, I believe he has been here almost as long as I have. What is new!

I've worked in a fair few countries and almost all of Asia, and it's the same thing...some people know how to help and some don't.

Don't come and tell me you love everything about Japan...if you do you are the typical foreigner that has lived here a few years and has yet to notice the small things!  I was just like this for the first 3-4).  But IG isn't generalizing IMO I've seen what he is referring to far too many times.

You really having a bad one this week aren't ya!

Yep Japan has surely pulled its self out of big trouble after the war (even if they went looking for trouble still on a high from past invasions) and turned the country around like no other could but this still doesn't mean they have sorted out every small detail...  They still don't realize the importance of dental care for example:D

Same as HK, Taiwan, China, Korea and Bangkok...why single out Japan. I'm not supporting any country here, just really don't see your point. You guys just haven't seen nothing yet if you wanna bitch about one country!

Should I start pointing out 3rd world countries have a stronger knowledge on valuing human life because of the high death rate or more common sense/morals than some educated poeple...and Yes, I have spent substantial time in a 3rd world country building facilities and transportation system to help them move forward.

[Rezz]

Troy you're house looks like a 3rd world country by the end of the week...

[Demon Dave]

Troy you're house looks like a 3rd world country by the end of the week...

:rant:

Oooo...play nice guys!

Come on, what it is with the Japan forum lately?!?!?! It seems as everyone's taking things a bit too seriously! May I suggest sitting back, relaxing with a mug of hot Sake and chilling out :alcoholic

Peace

[Rezz]

Well I did add one of these > for good measure but anyways...

I'm with Troy on this one... what else is new?