Most people don’t dash off to the emergency room with a paper cut or a slight headache, yet often many visits to the ER are not necessary. Do you know when you need — and don’t need — to make use of emergency services? According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the difference needs to be addressed so that people get the adequate and appropriate care they require.
Every single day in the United States over 300,000 people visit emergency departments and receive treatment. This is a high number that could be curbed with a bit of knowledge as to what symptoms should be addressed by emergency medical care.
Calling 911 or rushing to the nearest hospital when you don’t need to comes with a heavy cost to both you and the country’s health care system. So, if you can avoid visiting either the emergency room or a local emergency clinic in favor of visiting your general practitioner or family doctor, it would be wise to do so.
However, with that being said, if you do experience any of the symptoms that are listed below, you must get to an emergency room immediately. It’s your health, so you need to take the right steps to help safeguard it. The key involves knowing what symptoms are severe enough to warrant an ER visit and what symptoms can be treated by your doctor or at a walk-in clinic.
According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following list of symptoms do require immediate medical care and they warrant an immediate trip to the emergency room:
— If you are having a hard time breathing or are experiencing a shortness of breath.
— If you experience persistent or severe diarrhea or vomiting.
— If you are suddenly feeling weak or dizzy, or if you are experiencing fainting spells.
— If you are vomiting or coughing up blood.
— If you are experiencing any homicidal or suicidal feelings.
— If you become confused or your mental state changes in any other way.
— If you are experiencing uncontrollable bleeding.
— If your chest or upper abdominal area is causing you pain, or if you feel any pressure in your chest area.
— If your vision suddenly changes.
If you do experience any of these symptoms, don’t wait — head over to your local ER immediately. If any of these symptoms get worse while you are on route to the hospital, then it is imperative that you or your driver pulls over and calls 911 immediately. Have an emergency services provider come to you.
Also, if you have any allergies to medications, foods, or any other substances, it is always wise to bring along documentation or to wear a medical alert bracelet. This will ensure that emergency care workers can get you the help you need without having to face any unnecessary obstacles.