Calling an ambulance during a true medical emergency is the absolute right thing to do. Your 911 EMS call center will have help on the way in a matter of minutes, and they can also talk you through many situations. However, not everyone knows what exactly constitutes a true medical emergency, and they can tie up the phone lines keeping actual emergencies from getting the help they need.
Reasons to Call for An Ambulance
If you see someone in the midst of a medical crisis, or if you are in a medical crisis yourself, you should immediately seek help from your local 911 EMS. During an emergency, time is of the utmost importance because even a few seconds can mean the difference between a life and death scenario. The following are true emergencies and emergency transport from Alert Ambulance should be called for:
- A person involved in a traffic accident that is unconscious, bleeding profusely, or in severe pain
- A person in their 40s or 50s that is having chest pains
- A small child with a high fever (over 102 degrees) who is also complaining of a stiff or sore neck
- An elderly person that is having difficulty walking or is slurring their words without having consumed alcohol
- A person of any age that you suspect of having a drug overdose
- A person that is unconscious and cannot be roused
Reasons to Call Your Family Doctor and Make an Appointment
Minor health issues or even minor non-life-threatening emergencies should be handled through your doctor’s office, and not through the 911 EMS system. A situation may seem very urgent when it is happening to you; however, in the overall picture, it is not an actual emergency. The following scenarios are instances when you should seek medical treatment, but you can call for non-emergency transportation from Alert Ambulance:
- A person with a minor to moderate cut that is not bleeding profusely
- A person with chronic pain issues or pain from a recent surgery that needs to renew a prescription of painkillers
- A 1 or 2-year-old child with a bruise on the forehead
- A person that is vomiting due to overindulgence in alcohol but is still conscious
- A small child that has stuck something up their nose but is not having difficulty breathing
- A baby that has a fever less than 102 degrees
- A pregnant woman in the very early stages of labor
Call for the service needed to fit the situation.