**Link to Red Cross Japans course list** [here](https://www.jrc.or.jp/study/join/study-link/).
Course options differ by geographic region.
**The Basics**
The class was three days over the weekend (this Sat/Sun and last week Sun).
The first Sunday was basic life saving training (基礎講習)– i.e. how to do CPR and how to use an AED machine. It is possible to just take this class. Class is from 9:00 – 17:30, with a lecture in the morning, then practical training in the afternoon. At the end you take a quick practical exam, and then a written multiple-choice test.
The second week was the First Aid course (救急員養成講習). This part of the class covers *a lot* more information. Textbook info covers common emergency illnesses (stroke, heart attack, etc.), their symptoms, and how to treat them, as well as how to treat injuries. The practical portion covers how to dress wounds, how to stabilize broken bones, and how to transport injured people.
Classes go from 9:00 – 17:30. On the final day, you have a practical exam, a written exam, and a “disaster simulation” exercise that, while not graded, is very much like a test of your skills.
All the classes were in Japanese. The certification at the Osaka center cost around 4000yen.
**My Review**
Take this class. Take this class! If you have the capability, take this class! It was a wonderful learning experience. The people were great. You really learn to work with others well.
The hardest part was, of course, the language. Generally I would say that if your Japanese is good enough to understand conversation and read a textbook, but you dont know any medical terms or sometimes struggle with fluency, youll be fine. If you are still a student of Japanese though and not “fluent”– whatever that means to you– maybe best to avoid it. Red Cross Osaka did not have any English assistance during the class, the test, or afterwards.
They did offer me extra help on the test in case I couldnt read kanji, but I refused it. One of the most important things you learn is the importance of communication and how to communicate clearly and confidently in emergency situations– there is no point in learning this if you cannot speak the language to a passing ability.
If you *can*, then you should have no problem, but do be aware that you *will* need to work harder than the other people in the class. I spent 4 days preparing for this test, while most people only spent an evening or afternoon.
Beyond the language though, the instructors were great. The class was great– a mix of retirees and younger people, all from different walks of life. The class is fun, but people also take it seriously. First Aid training from Red Cross is fairly standard globally, but this class primarily comes from the perspective of preparing for natural disasters.
I really had such a great experience. I was intimidated about going but am so glad that I did. I think in a country like Japan it is important for people to know these things, and for foreigners that can, they absolutely should. If the worst should happen, capable bilingual people could be a very strong asset in helping Japan’s increasingly diverse population.
Anyway, AMA! Or dont ask me anything, and take the class yourself!!
12 comments
Well done, I was thinking of taking one of these classes myself, however my worry would be my lack of medical Japanese. I do not think the course I looked at was run by the red cross.
Anyway jolly well done.
Congratulations!
I did something similar with the Fire/Disaster Preparation class, which has a similar short, intense schedule to yours, and am really glad I took it. That test supposedly has a 97% pass rate but I admit to being a little nervous when the certifications were handed out!
Mine had a mixture of company employees nominated to be the safety officer at their workplaces, apartment managers, and small business owners who needed to get certified. You could sense the firefighters’ pride in their work and their appreciation for members of the general public who wanted to learn the basics of what they do for a living. I love how accessible Japanese society makes these kinds of certifications.
Was it difficult getting into the class? Looking through the red cross courses for Tokyo, it seems like it’s decided by lottery.
Do these courses give out some kind of certification? You mentioned that the disaster simulation exercise isn’t graded but can you fail the other two exams?
Seems interesting and something I’d like to try out. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Is mouth to mouth still recommended in Japan ?
Cool! I also took this course a long time ago. I learned how to use a defibrillator, and resuscitated the dummy. The dummy was also my first kiss.
What was the cost of the course?
How difficult was the Japanese? N2 level?
**Who is your daddy, and what does he do?**
Nice one, I’ve been planning to do something similar. I guess I’ll hit the books more first.
What was the most hardcore thing you practiced in your opinion?
I work in an event venue that hosted one of these seminars a while back, so I overheard parts of the class but wasn’t actually attending or paying perfect attention. I was a little surprised that they still recommend the use of tourniquets. I’m no medical expert, but I thought that tourniquets could cause permanent nerve damage if done incorrectly or left on too long. The class I saw did mention that you should write down the time that you apply the tourniquet, but they didn’t explain why. What was your class like in this respect?
Have got one (and have been doing it regularly for a while now) so no questions.
Comment though. It surprises me that they don’t get eikaiwa teachers / ALTs to do it (am sure somebody can arrange an English language version). Resuscitation aside… I think there’s simple, regular stuff like treating a bleeding nose or looking after somebody who’s choking that a lot of people think they know, but really don’t.
Oh i did something similar at the firestation. There were three courses and one of them was just watching a boring video lol
Thanks for this, definitely interested