Emergency Care
Emergencies
An emergency is a condition that will cause loss of life or permanent or severe disability if it isn't treated right away. Examples of emergencies include the following:
chest pain
shortness of breath
severe abdominal pain (except for constipation or menstrual cramps), especially after an injury
uncontrollable bleeding
blunt head trauma or a penetrating wound to the head
confusion or loss of consciousness, especially after a head injury
poisoning or suspected drug overdose
serious burns or cuts
inability to swallow
seizure
slurred speech or sudden onset of paralysis
broken bones
In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room. Your health plan may require you to notify your health care provider as soon as possible.
Urgent Care
Urgent conditions aren't life-threatening. However, delaying treatment for urgent conditions could cause serious problems. Examples of urgent situations include the following:
ear infections
sprains
urinary tract infections
vomiting
high fever
Heading for the emergency room usually isn't the best choice in these situations. Urgent conditions can usually be treated at home until you can see the doctor, at a clinic, or with a visit to your health care provider. Call your provider to find out what you should do. He or she can give you advice on how to reduce discomfort and arrange for you to see a doctor if necessary; an on-call doctor or a clinic nurse can do the same. Your health plan may also provide an emergency number you can call to ask a health care provider about the best treatment for your condition or situation. You can reach your health care provider or a physician on call 24 hours a day, even after normal business hours. Call your provider's office and either a recording or an answering service will tell you how to reach the physician on call.
Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near your phone - for your provider, the poison control center, and any emergency help line your health plan may offer - along with fire and police numbers.
Emergencies and First Aid
Review this information before an accident occurs so that you are prepared to make the best decision possible.
All true emergencies need to be treated by an appropriate medical professional. The self-care guidelines in this section are appropriate for use only when medical professionals are not immediately available and before you can get to an emergency room. These guidelines describe how to assess what an accident victim needs, how to offer life support if needed, and when to offer first aid.
You may also find it helpful to take a first-aid class and learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use a defibrillator, an emergency item that is becoming more available to the general public. The more you know about first aid, the more likely you are to stay calm when helping yourself or someone else after an accident. In many areas, the American Red Cross offers first-aid and CPR classes. And first-aid instruction is often available through community education programs, hospitals or local colleges and universities. These courses teach you how to identify medical emergencies, understand the causes, symptoms and signs of injuries, and apply first aid.
Before trying to help someone who is hurt, you should always ask his or her permission or the permission of a guardian. You are legally protected for trying to help someone if you do so in good faith and are not guilty of willful misconduct. You can assume that you have the victim's consent to help if the victim is unconscious or so badly hurt that he or she cannot give permission.
You should also take care to protect yourself when offering emergency help. Many diseases such as hepatitis B and HIV can be spread through contact with blood. These infections do not penetrate skin that is intact, but you may have cracked or scratched skin that is vulnerable. Latex or nitrile gloves offer good protection. Otherwise, keep plastic wrap, several layers of gauze pad or other barriers (such as a towel or dry clothing) between you and the blood of the victim.
