Emergency Care
When To Call 911, Your Doctor, or The Hospital
When an emergency threatens a person’s life, limbs or sense organs – such as heart attacks, strokes, breathing problems, broken bones, head and neck injuries, cuts with severe bleeding, and eye injuries – call 911 immediately.Be prepared to provide the condition of the person experiencing the medical emergency, and location of the person for the ambulance staff to arrive.
It is important to have a list of medications being taken by the patient, if possible, to assist the first responders in assessing the medical situation.
The following are warning signs which may indicate a medical emergency:
- Any sudden or severe pain
- Changes in vision
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Confusion or changes in mental status
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
- Difficulty speaking
- Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Suicidal thoughts or feelings
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Unusual abdominal pain
