When to Call 911

Often times, we are unsure whether or not we should call 911 or the local emergency number. Knowing when to call for help can be just as important as making the call.. By the end of this article, you will know when to make the call for help.

The general rule when calling for help is, when in doubt call. If you are unsure if the situation is serious or not, if you are unsure whether or not the victim requires medical assistance, call 911 or your local emergency number. It is always better to be safe than to be sorry.

There are specific situations when calling 911 or your local emergency response number can save a life.

If a person is unconscious or becomes unconscious, call 911 or your local emergency response number. Even if the person regains consciousness, medical help is needed to determine what caused the person to become unconscious.

If a person is having trouble breathing, or is breathing in a strange way, such as wheezing, shallow breathing, rapid breathing, or gasping for air, call 911 or your local emergency response number. The person may go into respiratory arrest, meaning, the person may stop breathing, at any time. Medical assistance is needed to help prevent this and determine the cause of the problem.

If a person has is showing any sign or symptom of a heart attack call 911 or your local emergency response number. .Signs of a heart attack include pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest that either lasts more than 5 minutes or comes and goes, pain that spreads to the arm, shoulders, neck, or jaw, sweating, and even stomach or back pain. Even if the person says that they do not need help or that they are just fine, call, especially if you know that the person has any heart condition. The person may go into cardiac arrest, meaning, their heart may stop. The person needs medical help to determine and treat the cause of the problem.

If a person is bleeding severely, call 911 or your local emergency response number. The person needs medical assistance to care for the wound, and any other condition that may have contributed or arose from the blood loss.

If a person is severely burned or has a critical burn, call 911 or your local emergency response number. The person needs medical treatment to care for the burn.

If a person has pressure of pain in the abdomen that will not go away , call 911 or your local emergency response number. The person needs medical assistance to determine the cause of the pain.

If a person is vomiting or passing blood, call 911 or your local emergency response number. This can indicate internal bleeding. The person needs medical assistance to determine the cause and source of the bleeding.

If a person has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or has multiple seizures, call 911 or your local emergency response number. Also call if a pregnant woman has a seizure, a diabetic person has a seizure, or if a person does not regain consciousness after a seizure.

If a person complains of a severe headache, normally described as the worst headache of the person's life, has slurred speech, or any other sign of a stroke, call 911 or your local emergency number. The sooner the person gets medical assistance, the better the chance of full recovery from a stroke.

If you suspect that a person may have been poisoned, call 911 or your local emergency response number. Medical assistance is needed to determine the proper treatment for the specific poisoning.

If a person has any injury to the head, neck, or back, call 911 or your local emergency response number. DO NOT attempt to move the person. Doing this could cause further harm. The person needs medical assistance to determine the extent and severity of the injury.

If the person has possibly broken any bones, call 911 or your local emergency response number. DO NOT attempt to set the bone yourself. The person needs medical assistance to set the bone, and determine the extent of the damage.

There are other times when it is also important to call 911 or you local emergency response number. If there is a fire or explosion, electrical wires down, fast moving or quickly rising water, any presence of gas, any motor vehicle accident, or any situation where people cannot be easily moved, call for help. Do not assume that someone else has already called, make the call yourself.

If you are faced with any situation where calling 911 or your local emergency response number is necessary, and there is someone else available to call, ask them to make the call. This enables you to remain with the victim and care for them until help arrives.

Making the call for help often times saves lives. It is the most important thing any person can do in an emergency situation. If you are ever faced with an emergency situation, even if you are unsure if help is needed, do not hesitate, MAKE THE CALL!