5 Reasons to Race to The Emergency Department (and 5 Reasons to Skip)

Is it a Life or Death Situation?

Determining whether or not to go to the Emergency Department could be a life or death decision. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what qualifies as a true emergency. Skip the long wait and save emergency care for those in traumatic situations.

If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms, seeking care is vitally important:

• Chest or abdominal pain (learn more about heart attack symptoms)
• Shortness of breath
• Neurologic or stroke symptoms, such as paralysis, numbness or trouble speaking or walking (learn more about stroke symptoms)
• Fever not explainable by a common virus
• Injury with uncontrollable bleeding or pain, deformity (or any eye wound)

When you’re sick or in pain, it feels urgent--that’s only human.

But it’s better to skip a visit to the Emergency Department if:

• You are experiencing a common virus, especially a cold
• A work note is needed for an absence
• You have a minor headache
• You believe you have pink eye (itchy, not painful)
• You are vomiting or having diarrhea that is short-lived and not associated with significant dehydration or other worrisome symptoms (especially if other members of the family have similar symptoms)

Seeking unneeded care can delay treatment for those experiencing a true emergency. It can also result in higher health care costs for you, as well as potentially hazardous over-treatment.

If you want to see a doctor for more minor symptoms, such those listed in the second section, I recommend that you visit an urgent care center or call your primary care provider to keep your wait times and costs to a minimum.