To deal with possible increases in emergency calls involving foreign tourists, the Tokyo Fire Department plans to boost the number of its English-capable units to 36 by April 2016, NHK reported Tuesday.
The step is part of the fire department¡¯s preparations for an expected surge in the number of incoming tourists ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, according to NHK.
Unlike most emergency-aid workers at the fire department, members of the English-capable units can directly communicate in the language without using the conventional ¡°communication board,¡± which lists a variety of health conditions in English to help communication.
At present, 13 such units have been set up in Tokyo¡¯s 23 wards, with some members receiving training overseas, according to NHK.
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