TOKYO -- Two women have been thanked by the Tokyo Fire Department for their quick actions to save a teenage passenger who went into cardiac arrest on a train.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. on May 8 on a train that had departed Musashi-Kosugi Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line in Kawasaki. A female teenager who was leaning against a handrail near the door suddenly collapsed.

Fourth-year university student Airu Shiozaki, 22, heard the faint call, "Someone, please help." She removed her earphones and looked in the direction of the voice. People surrounding the teen appeared unsure of how to respond.

Shiozaki had taken a three-hour basic life-saving course in high school, where she learned how to use an automated external defibrillator and perform hemostasis. Thinking, "I have to do this," she rushed over and began performing artificial respiration.

Hearing, "Is there a medical professional here?" Megumi Saiki, 51, an orthoptist working at a hospital, also stood up. She had taken a basic life support course at work, learning emergency procedures including CPR, and began performing chest compressions. The words "the sooner you start, the better" from her training echoed in her mind.

Others helped in multiple ways, including covering the teen with clothing for privacy and pressing the emergency button.

The train arrived at Jiyugaoka Station in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward a few minutes later. Saiki and others continued chest compressions until an emergency response team arrived, and the passenger survived after being taken to the hospital.

The Tokyo Fire Department gave Shiozaki and Saiki the fire commissioner award on June 29 for their swift life-saving actions. The Meguro Fire Station chief's award was given to nine other individuals, including doctors, students and station staff who assisted in the rescue.

Shiozaki had also taken a life-saving course at university. When a female needs assistance, there can be psychological barriers for men to remove clothing or perform artificial respiration. Having been helped herself during an anemic episode, Shiozaki had decided to act if she ever encountered someone in need of assistance, and she said her body moved instinctively.

At the award ceremony, Shiozaki said, "In the course, I was told that having the courage to act can change the survival rate by tens of percent. Remembering those words helped me take that step."

Saiki reflected, "There are limits to what one person can do, but by not turning a blind eye and everyone cooperating, we did what we could."

Meguro Fire Station chief Hideki Uematsu commented, "I hope people will have the courage to take action, such as regularly attending courses, seeking help from those around them and calling the 119 emergency number."

(Japanese original by Yuka Asahina, Tokyo City News Department)