Nagasaki fire dept. gives first-aid training to foreign residents for 1st time

NAGASAKI -- In response to a growing number of foreign residents, the city's fire department conducted an emergency first-aid training session for non-residents on September 8, marking the department's inaugural offering of such training. The program, held at the city hall, catered to eight participants from the United States, Italy, Ukraine, and other countries who were concurrently enrolled in a Japanese language course.

During the session, attendees were taught how to utilize an automated external defibrillator (AED) and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation via chest compressions. The Nagasaki City Fire Department orchestrated the training in anticipation of Japan's Emergency Medical Care Day on September 9, aiming to equip local foreigners with the skills to administer life-saving measures without succumbing to panic.

One participant, a 26-year-old from Taiwan, remarked, "It is crucial to familiarize oneself with the process of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during normal circumstances, as language barriers may induce anxiety during emergencies." Yohei Shibuya, an assistant fire captain at the city fire department's emergency operations division, emphasized, "When assistance is required, we wish for individuals to approach those in proximity and deliver life-saving aid, irrespective of their nationality."

According to the Nagasaki Municipal Government, the city's foreign population has nearly doubled within the past four years, surging from 2,834 individuals in January 2022 to 5,500 in January 2026.