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Emergency Situations by Molly Hakes

Sometimes there is nothing you can do to prevent an emergency, but there are things you can do to be better prepared for one. Precautions can make a big difference in how quickly things improve.

Reactions

Being aware of things like food allergies or medical conditions beforehand can help to prevent an emergency situation, or provide you with background upon which to make crucial decisions in the event of a reaction to something. The number of Japanese kids with conditions like asthma or eczema has been increasing in recent years. Restrictions on activities or daily application of topical creams are things you should know about.

89

Arerugi wa arimasu ka.

Do you have any allergies?

Taberarenai mono wa arimasu ka.

Is there anything you cannot eat?

Chooshi ga warukunareba, oshiete kudasai no.

If you start to feel unwell, please let me know, okay?

Even small children with chronic conditions are aware of them and can often self-monitor things they should not have or do. Just to be on the safe side, seek as many details as possible. Here are some possible responses to your questions:

Tamago to bataa wa taberarenai desu.

I cannot eat eggs or butter.

Atopi ni naru kara choko wa dame desu.

I cannot have chocolate due to my eczema.

Tori no hane o sawaru to kushami ga deru.

If I touch bird feathers, I will sneeze.

These trips are often short and it would be a shame for someone to pass the time sick in bed because of a silly mistake. Your guests may be too shy to tell you that they can't eat something or that they feel ill. You should assure them that they should let you know if they have any pain or discomfort.

89

Dokoka ga itaku nareba, hayaku oshiete kudasai.

If you develop pain anywhere, please let me know right away.

Note the modification of the adjective itai combined with naru in its “if,” or potential, form. As you can see, itaku is conjugated with ku, not ni.

When they come down with a cold or have flu symptoms, many Japanese opt to wear a facemask to help prevent the spread of germs. Concern for others' health is the main reason for the mask.

Medical Terms

If the problem is not a previously known diagnosed medical condition or an allergic reaction, then you may have to investigate other possible reasons for your guest's discomfort.

90

Itami wa tsuyoi desu ka.

Is the pain strong?

Itai tokoro wa doko desu ka.

Where does it hurt?

Netsu o hakatte miru ne.

I'm going to take your temperature, okay?

The adjective itai has a related noun form: itami (“pain”), which appears in the first sample sentence. In the second example, the adjective itai modifies the noun tokoro. The literal translation, hurt place, is translated into English as a relative clause: “place that hurts.”

In some cases, as previously mentioned, the sudden change in diet can cause digestive systems to go berserk. Becoming constipated or having diarrhea is a common problem for many travelers.

90

Unko wa demasu ka.

Are you having bowel movements?

O-naka/atama wa itai desu ka.

Does your stomach/head hurt?

Kaze o hiita ka mo shiranai.

You may be coming down with a cold.

Like ka naa, ka mo shiranai helps to disclaim or downplay a prediction. It is another way to say “maybe.” Shiranai is the negative version of shiru (“to know”).

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <thead> <tr> <entry namest="col1" nameend="col2"><p>Terms for Playing Doctor</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>netsu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>fever</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>itami</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>pain</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-naka</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>abdomen, belly</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>unko</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>bowel movement</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kaze</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>cold</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>hakike</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>vomit</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>hakuge</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>nausea</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>chooshi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>condition</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kimochi warui</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>feel bad, sick</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kigen ga warui</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>bad mood</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kizu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>cut, scrape</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>nodo</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>throat</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>seki</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>cough</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>hanamizu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>runny nose (snot)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kushami</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>sneeze</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <div class="npsb"> <h2></h2> <p>Like most of the rest of the world, Japan uses the metric system. Celsius, rather than Fahrenheit, is the preferred temperature gauge. Average body temperature using the Celsius scale is around thirty-six degrees. 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