SECTION I: Be Involved in Your Healthcare - Before I Go To the Emergency Room

When you or a family member are sick or injured and you are not sure if it is a life threating situation, the information below can help you make the call to the doctor or emergency room to help you decide.

  The following tips help make your care safe and lead to the results you want.  
Words written in blue are links to additional resources
To view other sections, click on one of these:
Should I Go to the Emergency Room?
DO Go To the Emergency Room (ER)
if You Have:
Call Your Physician Before
Going to the Emergency Room
if You Have:
  • Child (12 weeks old or less) with Fever - Fever 101.4 under the arm or 100.4 rectally
  • Heart Attack - Chest pain, or discomfort in the chest area lasting more than a couple minutes--pressure, pain, squeezing.
    • Other Symptoms - Shortness of breath, pain in the neck, jaw, stomach, one or both arms or back, cold seat or nausea.
  • Stroke - Sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of your face, arm or leg (usually on one side of your body), difficulty speaking
    blurred or decreased vision dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination
    • Other Symptoms -
      A sudden or an unusual headache, vomiting or altered consciousness
      Confusion, or problems with memory.
  • Major Injury - Head injury or major loss of blood.
  • Uncontrolled Bleeding (bleeding for more than 10 minutes, that is not clotting)
  • Severe Insect Bite Reaction - symptoms include difficulty breathing
  • A skin rash
  • A sprain
  • An ear ache, cough, cold or sore throat, running nose or the flu (if high fever persists, contact your doctor)
  • Controlled Bleeding
    • Minor cut
    • Minor animal bite (A rabies shot may be needed)
  • Heartburn
  • Low grade fever
  • Mild diarrhea
  • Minor burn or sunburn
  • Mior infection
  • Ringworm
  • Sting from an insect (If you have difficulty breathing go to the ER)
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Sore Throat
  • Urinary tract infections

If you are not sure if a condition is minor or major contact or doctor or go to the emergency room.

Ask questions - Asking questions will help you understand your care

For more information about If I Am Admitted to the Hospital, click here

How to do I know if I need to go to an emergency room? Click here

Go back to the top of the page