Don’t Delay! When a Medical Emergency Arises, Get to a Hospital Emergency Room Quick

WORCESTER, Mass. – When a medical emergency happens, sometimes it’s obvious that the situation is an emergency. But sometimes it’s not. And in the heat of the moment, when the health of someone you know and love rests on your decision, how do you know what to do?

When an Emergency Room is Needed

Emergency rooms (ER) treat patients with urgent, acute and life-threatening conditions. For patients suffering from a serious illness or injury, or in danger of dying, visit the closest ER immediately. Appointments are not provided when going to the ER. Patients are seen in order of emergency and pressing medical needs, which means patients may need to wait. For a medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke, it’s imperative to call 911 for an ambulance instead of driving, so that emergency medical services begin treatment immediately. The hospital ER is the best place for emergency medical care.

“Every second counts during a life-threatening medical emergency,” explains Dr. Adam Darnobid, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital. “Individuals try to downplay potentially serious symptoms because they don’t want to risk being called a hypochondriac or ‘wasting time’ finding out something wasn’t serious. That can be a dangerous mindset.”

Symptoms that Require an ER

The following situations are a sure sign of a medical emergency and require immediate attention, whether calling 911 or visiting the nearest emergency room.

Injuries:

• Severe head injury
• To your neck or spine, especially if a loss of feeling
• Serious burn or burn over a large part of the body
• Broken bone, especially if the bone is pushing through the skin
• Deep wound or heavy bleeding

Pain:

• Severe chest pain or pressure
• Jaw pain with shortness of breath or chest discomfort
• Intense back pain with numbness, weakness or fever
• Severe, debilitating pain anywhere on the body
• Arm pain with shortness of breath or chest discomfort
• Unusual or intense headache that comes on fast
• Digestive problems, especially sudden, severe stomach pain, coupled with nausea and vomiting

Breathing Issues:

• Difficulty breathing or choking
• Passing out or fainting suddenly
• Serious allergic reaction with trouble breathing or swelling

Mobility:

• Muscle strain, when tied to the inability to walk, fever or an open wound
• Inability to speak, see or move
• Sudden weak or drooping sensation on one side of the body

Other:

• Inhalation of smoke or poisonous fumes
• Coughing or throwing up blood
• Electric shock or lightning strike
• High fever that doesn’t improve with medicine
• Suicidal thoughts/thoughts of hurting yourself or others

Dr. Darnobid advises to plan ahead and familiarize yourself with these guidelines to prepare for a potential emergency. Think about the hospital emergency room you would use for your family and plan the fastest route to get there safely.

“Our ER is equipped to deal with the most emergent situations ranging from heart attacks to stroke to traumatic injuries. Our ER team includes board-certified emergency medicine physicians trained to handle such situations. The ER nurses are skilled in CPR and advanced live saving skills for adults and children. Many also have gone above and beyond to get their Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN) and Trauma Nurse Certification (TNC), which are preferred, but not mandatory,” says Dr. Darnobid.

Though unexpected, emergency circumstances are part of life. Saint Vincent Hospital Emergency Department is ready to help and provide the quality care you need. For more information, visit our website here.