emergency
Drowning
溺水 (dekisui)
Drowning is respiratory impairment from liquid submersion that can cause brain damage within minutes. In Japan, incidents spike in summer near rivers, beaches, and pools. If someone is rescued from water and appears unresponsive, call 119 and begin CPR if trained. Japan's coastal and riverine rescue services are operated by local fire departments. Always swim in supervised areas and wear a life jacket on boats, as warning signs at waterways may only be posted in Japanese.
Many rivers and beaches in Japan lack lifeguards, and foreign residents should heed posted warning signs and avoid swimming outside designated areas even when signs appear in Japanese only.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Drowning |
| Japanese (日本語) | 溺水 |
| Chinese (中文) | 溺水 |
| Korean (한국어) | 익수 |
| Portuguese | Afogamento |
| Spanish | Ahogamiento |
| Filipino | Pagkalunod |
| Thai | การจมน้ำ |
| Vietnamese | Đuối nước |
| Romanization | dekisui |
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Read the guide →Last reviewed: September 2026