TOKYO -- Two women acted quickly and saved a teenager who collapsed on a Tokyo train on May 8.
On June 29, they were thanked by the Tokyo Fire Department for their actions, and awarded certificates.
Around 10:30 a.m., a teenage girl suddenly fell down inside a train after it left Musashi-Kosugi Station. The girl's heart had stopped, and she needed help quickly.
Airu Shiozaki, a 22-year-old university student, was on the train. She heard someone quietly ask for help. In high school and university, she learned how to help people in emergencies. Shiozaki quickly ran to the girl and began giving her air (artificial respiration).
Another passenger on the train, Megumi Saiki, 51, also stood up quickly to help. Saiki works at a hospital and learned how to help people whose hearts have stopped. Saiki began pushing on the girl's chest (chest compressions) right away.
Other people also helped. Some passengers covered the girl with clothes to give her privacy. Another passenger pushed the emergency button inside the train.
The train soon arrived at Jiyugaoka Station in Tokyo. Emergency workers took the girl to a hospital, and she survived.
On June 29, the Tokyo Fire Department gave awards to Shiozaki and Saiki for saving the teenager's life. Nine other people on the train who also helped received special awards.
Shiozaki remembered that her class taught her, "If someone acts quickly, the chance of saving the person goes up a lot. Everyone should try to help." She said these words gave her courage to help.
Saiki said, "One person can't do everything alone. But when many people work together, we can save someone's life."
The chief of the Tokyo Fire Department's Meguro Fire Station said, "It's important to know how to help in an emergency. Also, it's important to quickly call 119 for help."
(Japanese original by Yuka Asahina, Tokyo City News Department)
