News

Mr. Araoka, from the Safety Group at Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), has received the Director’s Special Award for his brave and precise life-saving actions during an emergency involving a researcher collaborating with KEK in the cafeteria on the Tsukuba Campus. His courageous and timely intervention saved a precious human life.

In the evening on May 25th this year, when entering the cafeteria, Mr. Araoka noticed a foreign researcher collapsed on the floor. Acting swiftly, he confirmed the person was unconscious and not breathing, and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is a lifesaving technique that is used to provide temporary assistance to the heart’s pumping function when it has stopped or is in spasms, thereby enabling the circulation of blood. Since a call to 119 (emergency services) had already been made, Mr. Araoka sought assistance and contacted the KEK Health and Safety Office. He also administered several electric shocks using an automated external defibrillator (AED) delivered from the KEK Information Center. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance team arrived, and the researcher was safely transported to the hospital, ultimately saving their life.

The hospital authorities reported that, as a result of Mr. Araoka’s prompt and appropriate life-saving efforts before the arrival of the ambulance, the individual’s life was saved. Mr. Araoka mentioned that he was able to act calmly and efficiently in response to the emergency situation precisely because he had received life-saving training during the annual “Safety and Health Week” organized by KEK.
Mr. Araoka commented “I’m glad that a precious human life was saved because of my actions. I encourage everyone to actively participate in the life-saving training, so that we can be prepared to respond in times of need.”