Emergencies can be confusing and overwhelming, leaving many of us wondering when it’s appropriate to call 911. This week we’re focusing on common scenarios, sharing personal stories, and providing practical advice to help you make the right call during a crisis.
First things first, here’s our not-so-short list of when to call 911:
1. Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies
• Unconsciousness or Unresponsiveness: Person is not waking up or responding.
• Breathing Problems: Difficulty breathing, choking, or severe asthma attack.
• Chest Pain: Especially with radiating pain, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.
• Stroke Symptoms: Facial drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulties.
• Severe Allergic Reactions: Swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, or drop in blood pressure.
• Poisoning or Overdose: Ingested poison or drug/alcohol overdose.
2. Severe Injuries
• Severe Bleeding: Uncontrolled or spurting bleeding.
• Severe Burns: Large, deep, or located on critical areas like the face, hands, feet, or genitals.
• Visible Bone Fractures: Protruding or immovable broken bones.
• Serious Falls: Falls from significant heights like ladders or roofs.
3. Acute Symptoms
• Seizures: Lasting over five minutes, multiple without recovery, or first-time seizure.
• Sudden Severe Headache: Especially with nausea, vomiting, confusion, or vision issues.
• Severe Abdominal Pain: Sudden, severe, persistent, especially with vomiting or fever.
• Confusion or Altered Mental State: Sudden confusion, disorientation, or unusual behavior.
4. Situational Emergencies
• Car Accidents: With injuries, significant damage, or traffic blockage.
• Fire or Smoke: Visible fire, smoke, or fire alarms going off.
• Water Emergencies: Drowning or near-drowning incidents.
• Suspicious Activity or Crime: Crimes in progress, gunshots, or threatening behavior.
5. Emergency Medical Interventions
• After Administering EpiPen, Narcan, etc.: Any situation requiring emergency medication or intervention.
• Unknown Medical Emergencies: Situations where a person’s health is in serious question and you’re unsure what to do.
When in doubt, always call 911 to have professionals assess the situation and ensure safety. If you’d like to hear more, download our newest episode to hear part 1 of our 3-part series on using 911, and what happens after you make the call.
Podcast Episode #15
Game Time Decisions: When to Dial 911
Calling 911 can be nerve-wracking, but this episode will help take the guesswork out of it. Learn when to call 911, even in situations where you’re unsure. Discover what information you’ll need to provide and what to expect when help arrives. You’ll also hear tips for what to do if someone is resistant to calling 911 for themselves. You can download the episode here.
Here’s where you can find the full episode library.
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