When a child goes to Japan to study, parents often worry not only about their studies and expenses, but also about unexpected situations such as falling ill, being hospitalised, having an accident or suddenly becoming unreachable.
The distance between Vietnam and Japan can make parents extremely anxious when their child does not answer the phone or reply to messages. In such situations, parents should stay calm and deal with the situation step by step rather than repeatedly calling in panic.
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Before your child leaves for Japan, keep important information
The family should agree on and keep the following information before departure:
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The name and address of the school.
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The address of the accommodation, dormitory or rented property.
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Your child’s phone number.
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The phone number of a teacher or person in charge at the school, if available.
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Contact details of the support organisation in Vietnam.
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Contact details of the person responsible in Japan, if provided by Tohoku or the school.
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Your child’s health insurance information.
Parents should also keep photos or copies of their child’s important documents so that they can be checked when necessary.
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If your child has a common illness, there is no need to panic
Illnesses such as a cold, fever, sore throat, headache, stomach ache or fatigue can occur while living in Japan.
The first thing parents should ask is:
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What symptoms does your child have?
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Do they have a high fever?
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Can they walk and eat normally?
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Have they informed the school or workplace?
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Do they need someone to accompany them to see a doctor?
If the condition is not serious, your child can rest, monitor their health and seek medical attention if necessary.
Parents should also remind their child to inform the school or workplace when they are ill, particularly if they cannot attend classes or work.
Read more: Guide to Looking After Your Health When You Are Ill in Japan
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If your child needs to see a doctor or be hospitalised
If your child needs medical attention, parents should ask:
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Which hospital or clinic are they at?
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Who is accompanying them?
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Have they presented their health insurance card?
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What has the doctor said about their condition?
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Do they need to be hospitalised or monitored further?
If your child is at school, in a dormitory or at work, parents can ask them to seek assistance from a teacher, manager or person in charge.
Parents in Vietnam do not necessarily have to solve everything from a distance. The priority is to identify someone who is near the child and can provide direct assistance.
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If your child has an accident, first find out whether they are safe
When parents receive news that their child has had an accident, it is natural to panic and call repeatedly.
First, try to establish:
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Is your child conscious and able to speak?
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Where are they?
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Is someone helping them?
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Have they been taken to hospital?
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Has the school, workplace or person in charge been informed?
If your child is in a dangerous situation, someone at the scene should call the emergency services in Japan and follow the instructions of medical professionals.
If your child cannot communicate themselves, the person accompanying them or the person responsible at the school or workplace may be an important point of contact for informing the family.
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If your child does not answer the phone after reporting an illness or incident
This is one of the situations that causes parents the most anxiety.
If your child has already said that they are going to see a doctor, are in hospital or have had an incident, but then become unreachable, parents should:
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Call again after a reasonable amount of time.
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Send a message asking about their condition.
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Contact a teacher or person in charge if you have their contact details.
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If your child lives in a dormitory, ask the manager to check on them.
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If your child is working, contact the person in charge at the workplace when appropriate.
Do not immediately assume the worst. However, if several unusual signs occur at the same time, the family should quickly find someone who can check on the child in person.
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Parents should prepare their child’s insurance information
International students in Japan need to understand the health insurance arrangements that apply to their status of residence.
Parents should know what type of insurance their child has, how the insurance card is used and what to do when seeking medical treatment.
Do not wait until your child is hospitalised before finding out this information.
Read more: The Actual Cost of Studying in Japan: How Much Should Parents Prepare?
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When should parents proactively contact Tohoku or the school?
Not every missed call means that there is an emergency.
However, the family should proactively seek support if:
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Your child has been out of contact for an unusually long period.
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Your child reports having an accident or being hospitalised.
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Your child repeatedly says that they are experiencing health problems.
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Your child appears to be facing serious problems at school, their accommodation or workplace.
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Your child says they want to drop out or suddenly wants to return to Vietnam.
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Your child is having problems with important documents, residence status or administrative procedures and does not know how to deal with them.
When making contact, parents should provide as much clear information as possible: the child’s full name, school, address, phone number, most recent condition and the last time the family was able to contact them.
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What should parents do from the time their child first arrives in Japan?
One of the best ways to reduce anxiety later is to agree on a communication routine from the beginning.
For example, the family can agree that:
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They will call once a day or every few days.
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If the child is busy and cannot answer the phone, they only need to send a short message saying that they are safe.
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If they become ill or have an accident, they must inform both their family and the relevant person in charge.
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They should inform their family if they change their address or phone number.
These simple arrangements can help parents feel reassured while still allowing their child to develop independence.
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What parents should remember
When a child is living abroad, parents cannot be beside them in every situation. Therefore, the most important thing is not to call constantly, but to help the child learn how to deal with problems independently and know when and where to seek help.
Parents may naturally become worried when their child does not answer the phone. Instead of repeatedly calling in panic, stay calm, establish what is happening, contact the right person for assistance and maintain communication with your child.
Studying abroad is not only about education. It is also a period when young people learn to take care of themselves, take responsibility for their health and seek help when they encounter difficulties.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Songda Tohoku Joint Stock Company
Address: L02-L01, Area A, Duong Noi Urban Area, Duong Noi Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hotline: 0989 044 852
Email: tohokusongda2014@gmail.com
Website: https://tohoku.vn