Ambulance Drivers

[dimwit]

Okay, I have a bit of mystery for you all. I was casually glancing at my wifes' favorite medical soap opera tonight and I noticed that all the ambulance drivers where wearing hardhats. Do Japanese Ambulance Drivers/Attendents actually wear hardhats at work or is this just dramatic licence? And if they do WHY?

[FG Lurker]

Okay, I have a bit of mystery for you all. I was casually glancing at my wifes' favorite medical soap opera tonight and I noticed that all the ambulance drivers where wearing hardhats. Do Japanese Ambulance Drivers/Attendents actually wear hardhats at work or is this just dramatic licence? And if they do WHY?

I don't have a good answer to your question... But I do have another interesting tidbit about Japanese ambulances... Most of them are basically taxis with sirens.

Huh?

Yep. Most of the drivers/attendants in Japan have absolutely NO medical training. They load you in the back and drive you to the hospital. If your heart stops enroute, tough shit.

Paramedic training is becoming more common but the percentages are still low.

[nanikore]

I *think* they do wear the little plastic hats, but I'll be sure to take note tomorrow.

The thing which does bother me is how *slow* emergency vehicles crawl through Tokyo traffic. I dread I ever need one, especially with the lack of paramedic training. This goes for Fire engines too...I saw one going through Ginza the other day...hope it was a small fire.

On the subject of taxi ambulances, the only time I've personally been in the back of an ambulance was in Hakuba after a friend broke her tail bone falling on the slopes. In that instance we were told we would need cash up front- they didn't take credit cards. Fortunately I happened to have the cash on me (about 15K I think) but what if I hadn't it?

[yakinoumiso]

Yeah, they wear hardhats. At least they are *supposed* to wear 'em. Actually, even most lorrie drivers wear 'em too. I guess most unions and companies require them for industrial workers.

Hell, even the elementary school kids wear hardhats...but that's a different story for a differnt time.

[DJEB]

They were wearing them when my wife called them to take me away.

[Failsafe]

The thing which does bother me is how *slow* emergency vehicles crawl through Tokyo traffic. I dread I ever need one, especially with the lack of paramedic training. This goes for Fire engines too...I saw one going through Ginza the other day...hope it was a small fire.

Don't worry, it was just another kerosene heater related fire.

[dimwit]

But I do have another interesting tidbit about Japanese ambulances... Most of them are basically taxis with sirens.

Huh?

Yep. Most of the drivers/attendants in Japan have absolutely NO medical training. They load you in the back and drive you to the hospital. If your heart stops enroute, tough shit.

Paramedic training is becoming more common but the percentages are still low.

Interesting perspective on that here

[FG Lurker]

Interesting perspective on that here

Yup, shocking stuff.

Another interesting thing about Japan... Recently the actual cause of death (cancer, AIDS, etc) is *usually* put on the death certificate when you croak. But until a number of years ago "heart failure" was almost always the listed reason. I suppose one could argue that the failure of the heart to continue beating is why the guy is dead, but......

[Taro Toporific]

Interesting perspective on that here
....Even though Japan has now instituted a paramedic program, they are still restricted from performing certain life-saving procedures. In the news lately (Nov. 2001) is a story out of Akita Prefecture in which ambulance crews are facing criminal investigation for having performed endotracheal intubations ...

Another interesting perspective to this that modern paramedic systems and Emergency Medical Services were a direct outgrowth of the Viet Nam and Korean Wars. Doctors and medics returning from those wars reapplied the lessons they learned to civil life. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_medical_service

Bottom Line: Japanese faux pacifism is deadly.