Tokyo's firefighters are well prepared for fires and other emergencies, and they proved it to the public yesterday at their annual New Years Fire Review.
In a program organized down to the minute (10:51 March of Firefighters; 10:59 Parade of Fire Apparatus), the city's fire service strutted their stuff. From commendations to stunts to a fire drill, they really put on a show.
"Wow, that was much better than I imagined," Tod gushed after it was all over. "What was your favorite part?"
Although I thought I'd be most impressed with the Edo-era ladder acrobatics which have been performed every new year for the last several hundred years, I have to say I liked the fire drill best.
The firemen ignited some tall concrete structures, using plenty of smoke bombs for good effect, then zoomed around in big red pumpers and ladder trucks to extinguish the blazes. Ambulances carted away the rescued "victims." Helicopters hovered overhead, dropping firemen in on the scene and airlifting people from rooftops. They even flew by and discharged water over the buildings, showering the crowd watching from the bleachers. It was exciting to see all the equipment in use, and oddly comforting as well.
Afterwards, as we examined the interior of an ambulance and smiled at toddlers having their pictures taken with the firemen, we purchased a fukubukuro (lucky bag) from the Tokyo Emergency First Aid Association Toward Excellent Service. Inside we found a some useful first aid supplies, a Bystander's First Aid manual, a kerchief printed with CPR instructions, and an entire box of latex gloves.
Maybe I'm not as prepared as the Tokyo firefighters, but I'm ready now for any minor first aid emergencies or proctology exams.
Posted by kuri at January 07, 2001 01:34 PM