The fire department in the central Japanese city of Kanazawa has issued a public appeal urging residents not to rearrange the shoes that paramedic crews remove when entering a house, warning that such well-intentioned tidying can hinder emergency response and delay patient transport.
Emergency crews position shoes deliberately
In an Instagram video posted on 5 August, which has amassed more than half a million views, firefighters demonstrate how paramedics leave their shoes at entrances in precise positions. The placement is intentional: three stretcher bearers can step directly into their shoes without jostling the patient or risking dislodging their oxygen mask.
In Japan, it is customary for anyone entering a home to remove their footwear, and for homeowners to rearrange guests' shoes to face the doorway for easy exit. However, the emergency services advise skipping this polite gesture during medical emergencies.
30-second delay can be critical
Firefighter Daisuke Yamashita, interviewed by TBS News Dig, explained, "Emergency crews decide the direction of their shoes according to their roles, so if someone changes their position out of kindness, it can interfere with putting them back on and delay the transport of the patient. From our experience, it can result in a loss of about 30 seconds."
Yamashita acknowledged the kindness behind the act but added, "We do appreciate the kindness behind straightening the shoes. During an emergency, it is extremely helpful if people instead prepare the patient's My Number card [a social security number] or another form of identification in advance."
Public response and broader etiquette reflection
Most comments on the video expressed gratitude for the advice. One user wrote, "I didn't know this. I will remember this for the future!" Another comment, which attracted more than 800 likes, suggested that strict etiquette could be relaxed in emergencies: "It's an emergency. I would just tell them: 'Please step inside with your shoes on!'"
The appeal highlights a broader tension in Japanese society between ingrained etiquette and practical emergency response, as the fire department's guidance aims to balance politeness with efficiency in life-threatening situations.
