Helping Others

If you see people who needs help

Precautions: This article is still incomplete and may not be accurate.

First of all, please follow these basic rules when helping someone:

1. Do not try to help them on your own. Help them with people who are actually trained to rescue people in emergency.
2. Even when helping out, keep close your radio for new information.
3. Always think about what you can and cannot do for your own safety. Secondary disasters may happen anytime anywhere.
4. Always keep calm when rescuing someone.
5. If you are not an trained medical professional, the only thing you can do is to seek other help. Amateur medical knowledge can be dangerous.
6. When calling for help, be as clear as possible, and express words in the most simplistic way. Do not try to use jargons.

In Japan, you will not be penalized/sued for rescuing someone, even if they end up dying.
So please be actively involved in rescuing activities as much as possible.
Often people die in disasters because it was just "too late".
Be brave and god speed!

How to make noise

When you want to call for someone and not getting attention,
it is much easier for someone to hear and notice you when you scream
with a lower pitched voice, and the usage of Vowels (AEIOU).
(e.g. "AHHHHHHH!" in a low pitch voice, rather than "KYAHHHH" in high pitched voice.)

If you see someone under a debris and cannot move

If you see someone that has been pinned under debris for long periods of time, do not try to rescue them on their own, and call ambulance instead.
If you try to move them, what's known as a Crash Syndrome can occur, resulting in shock death of the person.
If the person has JUST been pinned under the debris, pull them out immediately without hesitation, if possible.

Few More Basic Stuff

REMOVE FROM DANGER

If you or the person you are rescuing is near IMMEDIATE danger (burning vehicle or building), move them to safety.

ELECTROCUTION

If the person is suffering electrocution, immediately switch off current. If that's impossible, stand on dry, non-conductive surface (concrete, etc), and push or lever the person being electrocuted by a dry, also non-conductive stick of some sort. DO NOT touch them while they are being electrocuted.

UNCONSCIOUS BUT BREATHING?

If you see someone that is unconscious, but breathing, do not try to move them (unless in immediate danger) in case of spinal injuries. Check that there are nothing that obstructs them from breathing properly, and deal with any serious bleeding by tying up places that are closer to the heart from the injury. Position them so that they are on one side, to stop vomit, blood or tongue falling back blocking their airways.

You can try to do all these above, but the most important thing is to call for professional help. These rescue tips come second.