If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

“All too often, people think symptoms will ‘just go away,’ or decide to transport themselves or their loved ones to the hospital. The results can be disastrous,” says Debbie Costa, RN, MSN, Director of St. Mary’s Emergency Center.

“Many people do not realize that by dialing 911, they can get their loved ones immediate care much faster than by driving to a hospital themselves. Ambulances are staffed by highly trained medical professionals, not just drivers. When you call an ambulance, assessment and care can begin right there, on the scene. Calling 911 allows us to start treatment several minutes sooner, and with strokes and heart attacks, every minute matters.

“It’s also a hazard for people who are emotionally distressed to try to rush a loved one to the hospital in a personal vehicle,” Costa says. “People who are scared and worried are much more likely to have an accident. Then we’re dealing with multiple victims, and the person they were trying to help is also likely to be injured.”

So how do you know when you should call 911? The American College of Emergency Physicians provides the following checklist of questions you should ask yourself in a medical emergency:

• Is the victim’s condition life-threatening?
• Could the victim’s condition worsen and become life threatening on the way to the hospital?
• Could moving the victim cause further injury?
• Does the victim need the skills or equipment of paramedics or emergency medical technicians?
• Would distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the victim to a hospital?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions or if you are unsure, then it is best to call 911 for an ambulance.  The earlier the treatment the more likely you are to save someone’s life.  Paramedics and emergency medical technicians are able to speak with physicians in the emergency department by radio and alert them of the patient’s condition prior to arrival.

In cases such as heart attack and strokes, every minute counts.  If you suspect a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately.

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Heart attack warning signs

• Chest discomfort, pressure, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest
• Other upper body discomfort, including pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath, lightheadedness, cold sweats, nausea

Stroke warning signs

• Sudden weakness/paralysis on one side of the body or face
• Sudden trouble walking, speaking or standing
• Sudden onset of severe headache
• Blurred vision or loss of vision in one eye

Other conditions that may require emergency care include:

• Severe bleeding
• Head injury, especially with loss of consciousness, confusion or fainting
• Neck or spine injury, especially with loss of feeling or motion in part of the body (do not move patient except in life-or-death situations!)
• Heart palpitations, fluttering, skipped heartbeats
• Heat stroke, severe dehydration, lightning strike, drowning, hypothermia
• Broken bones
• Joint injuries resulting in loss of use, extreme swelling or severe pain
• Burns
• Difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, pneumonia, choking
• Inhalation of smoke or other toxic fumes
• Sudden fever, especially with neck stiffness and headache
• Rape, assualt, gunshot, blunt force trauma
• Animal attack
• Suicidal acts or thoughts
• Drug or alcohol overdose
• Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting
• Poisoning
• Blood when vomiting, coughing, urinating, or in bowel movements
• Severe allergic reactions from insect bites, foods or medications
• Complications from diseases, high fevers

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In any situation where you are confused or unsure of the emergency it is always best
to call 911.