12 Reasons to Visit the Emergency Room

Whether you’re a child or an adult an accidents and injury can occur at any time. Sometimes it may be difficult to determine if injury or symptoms are serious enough for immediate medical attention.  Though this is not an all-inclusive list, here are a few general guidelines to help you decide if you should make a trip to the Emergency Room.

1. Loss of consciousness. Even if only briefly.
2. Signs of a Heart Attack – For men: difficulty breathing, chest pressure, numbness in any arm and profuse sweating.  For women the signs could be different such as: indigestion, upper back pain, a stiff jaw, nausea and sweating.
3. Signs of a Stroke – Unable to smile on both sides of face, difficulty in raising either arm, speech impairment.
4. Any type of breathing difficulty.
5. Bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes.
6. Poisoning.
7. Insect bite or sting where breathing becomes difficult or worsens.
8. Major injury, such as a head trauma, dislocation or if bone is showing.
9. Coughing up blood.
10. Persistent or severe vomiting.
11. Suicidal feelings.
12. Unexplained disorientation or drowsiness.

In general, if you are questioning whether or not to go to the Emergency Room, it would be best to default on the side of safety and seek immediate medical attention.