How do you tell the difference between a true
emergency and a minor problem? Often the symptoms
the victim feels or the signs you see them
exhibit are so alarming that the need for
emergency care is obvious. But what should you do
if the problem is not so obvious?Only physicians can diagnose medical
problems. But you can learn to recognize certain
symptoms.
Most medical problems can be handled by
taking the person to the patient's physician or
to the emergency department. According to the
American College of Emergency Physicians, the
following are warning signs of Medical
emergencies:
- Difficulty breathing,
shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal
pain or pressure
- Fainting
- Sudden dizziness, weakness
or change in vision
- Change in mental status,
unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty
getting them to respond
- Sudden severe pain
anywhere in the body that does not go
away after a couple of minutes
- Bleeding that will not
stop after 10-15 minutes of direct
pressure
- Severe or persistent
vomiting
- Coughing up or vomiting
blood
- Suicidal or homicidal
feelings
When to Call an Ambulance
When should you call an ambulance
instead of driving the person to the emergency
room? If you think you might need an ambulance,
ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the victim's condition
life-threatening?
- Could their condition
become life-threatening while you are
taking them to the hospital?
- Could moving the victim
cause further harm?
- Does the victim need the
special equipment or skills of paramedics
or emergency medical technicians?
If the answers to any of these questions
are "Yes", it's best to call 911 in
Lexington County.
- In Case of
Emergency: DIAL 9-1-1
- TELL the dispatcher about what happened.
Be calm and speak slowly.
- Explain the type of emergency.
- Give your name and the phone
number of the telephone you are
using.
- Give the exact address of the
emergency.
- You'll have to ANSWER questions like:
- Is anyone hurt? How many victims?
Is the injured person conscious?
Are they breathing? Can the
injured people talk?
- Can they move? Is there a fire?
Is anyone trapped?
- LISTEN to the instructions the dispatcher
gives you.
- Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells
you to. Don't leave the scene of the
emergency until help arrives.
It's also important to
know what not to do.
Never move anyone who is
unconscious or has struck his head or was injured
in a car crash, unless he or she is in danger.
Don't use ice or butter or
petroleum jelly when treating burns. If burns
blister, are large or deep, get immediate
emergency help.
Never place anything into the
mouth of a victim experiencing seizure activity.
While it's smart to keep Syrup
of Ipecac in the house in case your child
swallows poison, it should not be used with all
poisons. Call the Poison
Control Center or the
emergency department for advice.
Free
Brochure About Emergency Help
For a free brochure about
emergency medical help, send a
self-addressed-stamped envelope to: Seconds Save
Lives, American College of Emergency Physicians,
2121 K. St, NW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20037.
The above information is from
American College of Emergency Physicians
Administration
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