What's Really an Emergency

An emergency is upon you, now what? How do you decide whether you should go to the emergency department or an Condell Immediate Care? If you need to be treated at an emergency department, should you call 9-1-1 for an ambulance or can you drive there?

Unfortunately, there are no clearcut answers and every guideline has an exception. However, the experts agree, trust your instincts. If you believe that your situation is extremely serious, call 9-1-1 to get to an emergency room immediately. Do not wait to "be sure" or fear being embarrassed if it is a false alarm. Don't take any chances.

Seek treatment from an Emergency Room if you have:

• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
  
• Sudden dizziness or weakness
  
• Major trauma
  
• Severe head wound
  
• Amputation
  
• Stroke
  
• Difficulty breathing or look bluish around the mouth
  
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
  
• Excessive bleeding
  
• Severe and/or persistent vomiting
  
• Dehydration
  
• Severe burns
  
• Foreign object swallowed or otherwise lodged in the body
  
• Abdominal pain coupled with a fever
  
• Seizures
  
• Poisoning
  
• Possible suicide or mental disorder
  
  

Call 9-1-1 if you have:

• Life threatening injury/illness
  
• Physical limitations preventing you from getting the patient to hospital
  
• Doubts about your ability to drive safely to the emergency room
  
• Fear the patient may need medical intervention before you can get to the hospital
  
  

Seek treatment from an Urgent Care Facility if you have:

• Minor cut requiring stitches
  
• Foreign matter in eyes or ears
  
• Possible infection requiring a lab test (i.e.: strep throat, respiratory infection)
  
• Broken bone
  
• Severe sprain
  
• Minor burn
  
• Skin rash
  
• High fever
  
• A minor condition that worsens over the weekend or during a holiday when your primary care physician is not available.