While you may know how to handle some medical necessities and injuries at home, there are times when a trip to the emergency room may be your best option. When an emergency happens, quick care can be critical. However, many individuals choose to wait out their injuries or illnesses because they are unsure of what a true medical emergency is. Waiting to visit the emergency room can cause more harm than good in some circumstances. Knowing the difference between a injuries that require emergency care and those that require urgent care can potentially save your life.
Experiencing a Heart Attack
Heart attack and stroke symptoms are those that should be of the utmost concern. If you are experiencing any of the most common symptoms of a heart attack, it is extremely important to get to the emergency room as fast as possible. Some of the most common signs of this medical concern that warrants a trip to the emergency room include chest pain, pain or numbness of the left arm, shortness of breath, pain within the jaw, nausea, sweating, slurring of words and extreme headaches. The emergency department can provide you with the life-saving care that you may need in this type of circumstance.
Painful Head Injuries
If you experience a blow to the head or a fall that causes you to hit your head, an emergency room visit may be necessary. While you may feel alright after hitting your head, signs and symptoms of major head injuries could occur hours after the incident. Seizures, vomiting and loss of consciousness are signs that you should visit the ER immediately. If you have experienced a slight head injury that has you concerned, a visit to the Hallmark Health – Urgent Care, a walk-in clinic in Medford, MA, or another urgent care facility can treat and diagnose your injuries.
Broken Bones
An accidental injury may lead to a broken bone. If not treated immediately, additional long-term damage may occur. Some signs that differentiate a broken bone from a sprain or fracture include being unable to bare weight on the injured joint, misshapen bones and joints, extreme swelling and bruising. You may want to head to an urgent care room rather than the ER, unless bones are protruding or you are bleeding badly.
Infant or Child Injury
Infants and young children who experience a sudden illness or injury may require immediate care at your local emergency room. This includes fevers in newborns, injuries that cause excessive bleeding such as deep cuts that require stitches, head injuries, severe flu symptoms and more.
It is important to never fool around when it comes to your health. If you feel that an emergency room visit is necessary, it is always best to make the visit for the best possible outcome in the given situation.