We all know to call 000 if you’re suffering a medical emergency to get an ambulance sent. But what exactly counts as a ‘medical emergency’? Here are the symptoms you never want to ignore.
Sometimes the need for an ambulance is obvious – broken bones, excessive bleeding, or an unconscious patient would all qualify. But sometimes it’s less clear, and potentially life-threatening conditions go untreated.
Many people, rightly, are reluctant to call 000 for fear of being a burden on an already overworked system.
But there are certain health issues you should never ignore, so call 000 immediately if you’re experiencing any of the following:
Chest pain
If you experience chest pain that last more than a few minutes – even mild chest pain – then you should definitely call an ambulance. Ongoing chest pain can be a sign of an impending heart attack or stroke.
Every second counts when it comes to major cardiovascular issues and you should never attempt to drive yourself to hospital if you’re experiencing these symptoms. An ambulance is fitted with specialist heart equipment as well, so you’ll be much more likely to survive if you call an ambulance right away.
Shortness of breath
If you’ve just been for a run and are a bit short of breath, that’s fine. But if you suddenly find it difficult to breath for no reason – you need to call 000 straight away as it can be another sign of an impending heart attack.
Definitely call 000 if the breathlessness is severe or you also have nausea and chest pain, as you may be experiencing a pulmonary embolism (blood clot on the lung).
Burns
Minor first-degree burns – characterised by redness, swelling and pain in the first layer of skin – can usually be treated at home with cold water, bandages and pain medication.
But for any burn more serious, you need to contact emergency services straight away. Also call an ambulance if the burn is on a large part of your hands or on your feet, face, buttocks, groins, or one of your big joints, like your knees or elbows.
Head injuries
Like burns, minor head injuries can be treated at home, but anything more serious needs emergency attention as soon as possible as it could be masking more serious injuries underneath.
A bump on the head can be extremely serious and need immediate medical care if you pass out, have a seizure, or have a headache that won’t go away, persistent vomiting or nausea, slurred speech, or you feel confused, weak or numb.
Deep cuts
You can treat minor scratches and cuts with Band-Aids, but if the cut has gone any deeper than the first layer of skin, you’ll need to go to hospital. If you can yellow fatty tissue under the first layer of the cut, seek help immediately.
It will need attention fast if the wound won’t close or the cut is located on your face, neck, genitals, or across a joint. You should also go if you were bitten by an animal or a person, cut with a dirty or rusty object, or you’re bleeding badly or have a foreign object stuck in the cut.
Whatever your health issue, it’s best to err on the side of caution. You’d rather call an ambulance out and not need it than the alternative.
Trust your gut. One of your most powerful tools is your own observation. If your instinct or intuition is telling you it’s serious, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency room.
When was the last time you had to call an ambulance? Did you wait too long? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Hospitalisations increase year on year
