When your parents collapse, can you properly call an ambulance?
Your parents, who usually walk normally, are unable to get out of bed.
Your parents are less energetic than usual and are barely eating.
We don't really want to imagine it, but those of us with elderly parents may find ourselves in such situations.
In your head, you know that "you should just call an ambulance" in those moments, right?
However, it actually takes courage to call an ambulance when your parents are acting strangely.
Today, I will introduce two useful tools for when you are unsure whether you should call an ambulance.
1. Emergency Consultation Center #7119
When it is obvious that you need to call an ambulance, such as when someone has "collapsed and is unconscious" or "has a fracture and cannot move," you should just go ahead and call one.
However, there are many situations where you might be unsure whether to call an ambulance, such as:
▶ Your parents are acting somewhat strange.
▶ They have fallen and are injured, but they can still manage to move on their own.
There are many such situations where you might be unsure whether to call an ambulance.
In such cases, you can call the Emergency Consultation Center at #7119 for advice.
#7119 is staffed by doctors, nurses, and trained consultants.
They will listen to the symptoms and determine if they are "emergency symptoms" or if there is a "need to see a doctor immediately."
If they determine from the consultation that the situation is highly urgent, they will connect you for a prompt emergency ambulance dispatch.
On the other hand, if they determine it is not highly urgent, they will provide advice on medical institutions you can visit and when to seek care.
It is a very helpful service where you can consult directly with medical professionals.
However, please note that the service area is limited.
Be aware that it is not available everywhere in the country.
Please check below to see if your area of residence is covered.
2. National Emergency Medical App "Q-suke"
So, what should you do if you are outside the #7119 service area?
In that case, there is a smartphone app that can help you determine whether you should call an ambulance.
That is"Q-suke".
If you select the relevant symptoms in the app, it will provide a judgment such as "Call an ambulance immediately" or "Visit a medical institution as soon as possible."
When you are unsure whether to call an ambulance, having the app provide a judgment gives you confidence in your decision, which is reassuring, isn't it?
I highly recommend downloading it to your smartphone in advance.
In my case
One day, when I went to my parents' house, both of them were unable to move.
It was a chilly autumn day. In that environment, my father was lying limp in the living room, wearing only a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts, with the electric fan still on. Next to him, my mother, who suffers from depression, was sitting there, unable to move with a gaunt face.
It was clearly a dangerous situation.
Thinking about it now, it was a situation where I should have called an ambulance immediately.
However, at that time, I was worried, thinking, "Is this really a situation where I should call an ambulance?" and I couldn't call one right away.
I think it is difficult for someone facing the situation of their parents collapsing for the first time to make a calm judgment.
Please make use of consultation services and apps to make a prompt and appropriate decision.
Conclusion
Even now, I shudder to think what would have happened if I had been half a day later in calling an ambulance...
I truly believe this is what it means to have a narrow escape from death.
For those of you who have read this, please be prepared so that you can use the tools I introduced immediately if something happens.