Please don’t rearrange our shoes when we turn up, paramedics in Japan urge

Japanese etiquette places a strong emphasis on manners and consideration for others, but emergency services in Kanazawa are asking residents to make an exception during emergencies. The city’s fire department has advised people not to rearrange the shoes that paramedics remove when entering a home. Although straightening a guest’s shoes toward the doorway is normally considered polite, doing so during an emergency can actually slow down paramedics.

Paramedics deliberately position their shoes in specific directions based on their roles when they enter a home. This allows the three people carrying a stretcher to quickly put their shoes back on without disturbing the patient or dislodging an oxygen mask. Firefighter Daisuke Yamashita explained that rearranging the shoes can cause a delay of about 30 seconds, which can be important when transporting a patient during an emergency.

The fire department shared the advice through an Instagram video, which received more than half a million views. Many people appreciated the helpful reminder and said they would remember it in the future. The firefighters also suggested that instead of fixing their shoes, residents should prepare the patient’s identification, such as a My Number card, if possible. The story shows that even good manners sometimes need to be set aside when safety and saving lives are the priority.

Edited using generative AI tools. 
Source:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/28/never-tidy-paramedics-shoes-japan-custom-etiquette

Comprehension

What did the Kanazawa fire department ask residents not to do?
Why do paramedics position their shoes carefully?
How many people usually carry the stretcher?
How can rearranging the shoes affect emergency workers?
What should residents prepare instead of rearranging the paramedics’ shoes?

Discussion

Why do you think Japanese people place such importance on etiquette?
Have you ever followed a social rule even when it was inconvenient? What happened?
Do you think 30 seconds can make a big difference during an emergency? Why?
What should people prioritize during an emergency: manners or safety? Why?
Would you have thought about rearranging the paramedics’ shoes if you were the homeowner?
What other everyday habits might accidentally make an emergency more difficult?
How can people stay calm and helpful when emergency workers arrive?
Do you think emergency services should use social media to teach people about safety? Why?
What information or items should people prepare before emergency responders arrive?
Are there situations when it is acceptable to ignore social etiquette? Give some examples

Vocabulary

Etiquette — the accepted rules of polite behavior in society
Consideration — careful thought about other people’s feelings or needs
Paramedic — a trained medical professional who provides emergency treatment
Reposition — to move something into a different or more suitable position
Stretcher — a device used to carry a sick or injured person
Dislodge — to accidentally move something from its proper position
Interfere — to prevent something from happening smoothly or effectively