Subject: Community Security Update for November 16, 2001 Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan Community Security Update for November 16, 2001 ------------------------------------------ Security Situation ------------------------------------------ The security situation in Japan remains the same this week, with no new threat information reported either from the American or the Japanese side. In the last week, there have been no security incidents, no large demonstrations nor any other security threats reported. However, the embassy continues to maintain a heightened state of alert in light of the September 11 attacks and we encourage all Americans living in Japan to do the same. ------------------------------------------ Rumors ------------------------------------------ We would like to caution against unfounded rumors. If you hear rumors of threats, accurate, up to date information is available either through our website at http://www.tokyoacs.com, the main State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov, by contacting your local police station or from the embassy's Regional Security Office at telephone: 81-3-3224-5000, Fax 81-3-3224-5197. ------------------------------------------ Advice for Parents ------------------------------------------ The following advice is from the Department of State's Regional Psychiatrist. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, many of us are trying to learn how best to respond to such traumatic events. A traumatic event is defined as a negative situation that is unexpected both in time and place and which makes a person feel vulnerable and overwhelmed. Every person attempts to respond to a traumatic event in a way that makes them feel less vulnerable (i.e. a person tries to reclaim control of their feelings and circumstances that seem to have spun out of control). ------------------------------------------ Three Phases ------------------------------------------ Following a traumatic event people normally go through three phases: The first phase is a "fight or flight" phase during which heightened senses bring in as much information as possible. Safety is paramount. Within a few hours, the second phase of numbing and closing down takes place. The ability to think clearly diminishes and people withdraw as they begin to try to cope with the sensory overload they are experiencing. In the third phase -- a processing phase -- the person tries to prepare against being caught off guard by planning for a safe future. This results in a rehashing of the current traumatic event and any other previous traumatic events in an effort to try to work out a solution that will guarantee safety. Anything that distracts a person from doing this creates irritability. With the passage of time and the lack of any recurring traumatic events, a person usually returns to the regular routines of daily life. ------------------------------------------ Children ------------------------------------------ Children go through the same phases as adults. The responsibility of parents is to decrease the load of possible traumatic images seen by their children. Children over the age of 10 should watch TV news with a parent. This should be done so that the parents can discuss the child's thoughts and feelings. Children under 10 years should not be watching TV news. Adults should understand that watching the news can heighten feelings of vulnerability and lack of control. Modem TV news is too intense and repetitive. Watching the News Recent studies demonstrate that radio and internet news are easier to assimilate than television news. It is usually less overwhelming to watch the news on TV in short increments (perhaps segments of 15 or 20 minutes) separated by time in between to allow processing of the information viewed. Obviously, during a crisis both children and adults hear many rumors. It is often hard to determine what is factual and what is not. Parents need to let their children know they are there to answer any questions and address their children's worries. Parents can tell their children that they are saddened by the tragic events. Most importantly, they need to support their children in feeling safe and to communicate to them that the daily routine will continue. A regular routine tends to help children feel safe. Children look at bedtime as a time of separation from their parents. When they feel unsafe, they often use a variety of delaying tactics to continue the reassuring contact with parents. Parents need to understand this aspect of a child's behavior and do their best to keep the usual bedtime routines in place. Regression At times of stress, regression is a typical coping technique used by both children and adults. During times of crisis it is best to reassure rather than punish the child. Another typical symptom seen at these times in children (and adults) is irritability. Again, reassurance is the best response. Adults have the advantage of understanding that the future can bring healing and change for the better. A child only sees the present time as real and does not have developed view of the future. Adults therefore can use healthy coping skills to deal with the uncertainties of the present because they are able to understand that the future can bring positive changes Coping Skills The key thing is to use healthy coping skills (e.g. exercise and open expression of feelings) rather than destructive coping skills (e.g. drinking and smoking). The healthiest coping skill is to reach out to others in positive ways. Being a good neighbor is the best defense against feeling like the outside world is going to harm you. ------------------------------------------ Passports by Mail ------------------------------------------ We want to take the opportunity of this Community Security Update to let the American community know that most Americans, including many children, can renew their passports by mail, and thus need not come in person to the Embassy or one of our Consulates. Full details are available on our web site as http://www.tokyoacs.com. Persons in Tokyo, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Yamagata or Yamanashi prefectures apply through the Embassy; consult our web site for the areas served by our Consulates, or follow the links at the end of this message for the Consulates' web site addresses. ------------------------------------------ Please contact us by FAX at 03-3224-5856 with questions, or suggestions for topics for future updates. ------------------------------------------