What to Do In A Medical Emergency

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are nearly 150 million emergency room visits each year. Reasons range from a broken bone, a burn, choking, a bee sting, a stroke, to heart attacks and more. The list goes on and on. In an earlier blog I wrote about heart attacks in women. But for most people, the hope is that it will never happen to them. That’s why so many people don’t give it a lot of thought and aren’t prepared for a medical emergency when one occurs.

If that sounds like you, here are three important questions you should be asking:

Would I recognize a medical emergency?
Would I know when to call 9-1-1?
What should I do after I call 9-1-1?

Not knowing the answers to these three important questions is one of the main reasons people die in a medical emergency even though their death could be preventable. Unfortunately, 40 percent of Americans don’t know a single symptom of a stroke even though it’s the third most common cause of death in the United States.

That’s why I, together with Shelly Glazier, have written a new book called Save Your Life: What To Do In A Medical Emergency. It’s a simple to read and easy to understand guide that answers the three important questions above. Here are four important examples taken from our Save Your Life book to help you when you are faced with a medical emergency.

If you think there could be a medical emergency:

Should you:

Call your doctor?

No! Waiting for the doctor to call back wastes valuable time.

Rest to see if you feel better?

No! Waiting to see if the symptoms pass also wastes time that could save a life because the sooner you get medical care, the more likely you are to live.

Drive yourself to the hospital?

No! If you drive yourself to the hospital, you might pass out or stop breathing on the way.

Call a family member or friend for a ride to the hospital?

No! Do not ask family or friends to drive you to the hospital (unless emergency services are not available). If you lose consciousness, your driver likely won’t be able to help you.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Vicky P.

11:10AM PST on Dec 14, 2011

yup, call 911 is always the best thing

send a green star

Past Member .

12:03PM PST on Dec 13, 2011

I've heard about this over and over from Drs show and Dr Oz show. :D Plus I heard from other people that if you drove someone to hospital, that person died, you go to jail cuz you're responsible for his/her death. If you called 911, you die on way to hospital, nothing happens to paramedics cuz they tried to save you. Scary thought!!

Patricia G.

1:57PM PST on Dec 11, 2011

Thank you. Call 112 in Portugal!

tiffany t.

1:17PM PST on Dec 11, 2011

remain calm

Chad A.

12:27AM PST on Dec 11, 2011

Remember that 911 may not be the number for emergency services where you live. Know who to call in an emergency. Practicing and thinking about emergencies makes it easier when the time comes.

Kimberlee W.

9:50AM PST on Dec 10, 2011

(the home is at the end of a very curvy, 5-mile cul-de-sac)
Had to use an ambulance once for a busted ligament in my knee. That was the hardest decision I had to make at that point in my life and I wish I'd just let them go. Cost me over $5000 in charges between the ambulance, the hospital, the cast and a doctor actually throwing me out of his office in mid-appt'. when he & I found out together that my ex had cancelled my insurance illegally.
All they managed to do was immobilize my leg. They did nothing for my pain or disability and actually demanded I find someone to drive me home. It didn't matter to them that I'd just arrived in that town less than a month previous.
Took me 6 yrs, but I paid it off. Next time, I'll just go to Home Depot, buy my own 2X4 and some duct tape.

9:43AM PST on Dec 10, 2011

My husband and I have a home we hope to get back to if we ever can afford health insurance there.The problem is that the town has cancelled its ambulance service and the closest hospital is almost an hour away.
I really don't see any other option than getting one of us into the car, if possible, and try to meet the ambulance en route. (t

Geetha S.

12:03AM PST on Dec 10, 2011

Thanks for posting.

Marie W.

11:09PM PST on Dec 9, 2011

Would 911 get an ambulance in time these days?

Lynn C.

8:27PM PST on Dec 9, 2011

Thank you Dr. Seibel. Since I'm the caretaker this is exactly what I need to know. Bookmarking this one for sure.