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Emergencies
A trip to a hospital emergency room is never on anyone's list of things they would like to do. But planning ahead and understanding the kinds of medical problems and injuries that require emergency room treatment versus those things that can be handled in a clinic or doctor's office can help you receive the care you need, as well as reduce stress and anxiety.
Be prepared.
Have a list of phone numbers ready near the phone. Police, fire,
poison control center, local hospital, ambulance service and your
family doctor should all be on the list. Use the Emergency
Contact Information Tool to keep emergency care
information readily available for yourself and your child’s
caregiver.
When is it an emergency?
Knowing when you or someone you know needs emergency attention
can be critical. According to the American Heart Association,
most damage
from a heart attack occurs in the first two hours. But many people
wait several hours before seeking help. In the case of chest
pain, it is often better to err on the side of caution.
Here are some other examples of medical emergencies:
- Severe bleeding that does not stop after 15 minutes of direct pressure
- Sudden or severe pain and swelling in a joint
- Blacking out
- Swallowing poison
- Choking
- Suddenly not being able to move or speak
- A broken bone
- A human or poisonous snake bite
- A gaping wound (the edges don't come together)
- Severe chest pain along with sweating, shortness
of breath, spreading pain,
nausea, vomiting, dizziness or a fast or irregular heartbeat.
What if it's not an emergency?
If your problem is not an emergency, do not
go to the emergency room.
You can call
your doctor
or go
to a
walk-in clinic.
Some problems that are usually not emergencies include:
- Earache
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Sunburn or minor cooking burn
- Insect sting that does not cause breathing trouble
- A minor cut where the bleeding is under control (but call
your doctor
to make sure your tetanus is up to date) - A skin rash
- A fever without convulsions (uncontrollable shaking)
- Muscle sprain
- An animal bite (unless you have been bitten on the
face or hands,
or unless it is a poisonous animal such as a snake)