In Japan, 119 calls an ambulance (and the fire service). It is for emergencies — not a ride to the hospital for something minor.

Call 119 if there are signs like:

• Chest pain, trouble breathing
• Sudden weakness, slurred speech, or one-sided numbness
• Loss of consciousness, a seizure
• Heavy bleeding, a serious burn, or a major injury

Not sure how serious it is?

Call #7119 first — a free phone line that helps you judge whether you need an ambulance, an emergency clinic, or can wait. (For children, many areas also have #8000.)

Good to know

• The ambulance itself is generally free, but the hospital treatment is not.
• Tell them your location, what happened, and the person's condition.
• If you can move safely and it isn't urgent, a clinic or a taxi to a clinic is usually the right call.