When to Call 911 for an Ambulance
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, September 23rd, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from the City of La Grande Fire Department) How do you tell the difference between a true emergency and a minor problem? Certain Symptoms are so alarming that the need for emergency care or even an ambulance is obvious. But what should you do about more common illnesses and injuries.
Know which symptoms to watch for. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warnings sings of a medical emergency:
- Difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Fainting
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
- Change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing)
- Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Overdose on medication
Some examples of minor problems when NOT to call 911 include:
- You need a ride to a doctor’s appointment
- Getting a scraped knee bandaged
- Minor symptoms of common illnesses
- A sprained or twisted ankle
- Minor burns, shallow cuts
- To get into the ER quicker
For minor medical problems, contact your physician or go to an urgent care clinic.
Limiting calls to 911 to those situations that are true emergencies allows our limited resources to best provide service in our citizens in a time of need.If you are having difficulty deciding to call or not, don’t hesitate, CALL 911
