Tips for Determining If It's a Medical Emergency

In 1972, the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) began providing emergency medical transport and treatment to residents of and visitors to Detroit. In 2022, the DFD marked 50 years of providing 24-hour emergency medical services. The department's mission is to provide pre-hospital medical care with a focus on safety, skill, and compassion. In its May newsletter, the DFD concedes that it can be tricky to determine when to seek medical treatment and when to call for an ambulance and offers some guidelines.

The DFD says the first step is to speak with your doctor about emergency planning and deciding in advance when and if calling the doctor's office or heading straight to the hospital emergency room is the best option. You can also have a plan in place for what to do if the doctor's office is closed when an emergency strikes and whether an urgent care facility is preferable.

While only a doctor can diagnose a health issue, the DFD says to be aware of these warning signs: trouble breathing or shortness of breath, chest or upper stomach pain or pressure, fainting, dizziness, weakness, vision changes, mental status changes like confusion, bleeding that won't stop, severe or constant vomiting, coughing up or vomiting blood, and suicidal or homicidal thoughts or feelings.

But when is it time to call 911? Kyla Wyatt is Chief of the Communications Division for the DFD's Dispatch center. She says save a call to 911 for health issues that come on suddenly as opposed to a medical issue that has been bothering you for days, such as a twisted ankle or a rash. In the latter case, a visit to your doctor, local health clinic, or urgent care is the best option. "We only would like to receive calls when there is a life-threatening emergency or one that has the potential to be life-threatening such as a stroke, cardiac arrest, or some type of difficulty breathing," she says, adding that it is not always a good idea to drive yourself to the emergency room if you are in distress.

The DFD suggests asking some questions. Is the victim's condition life-threatening? Could the victim's condition worsen and become life-threatening on the way to the hospital? Would moving the victim cause further injury? Does the victim need the skills or equipment of paramedics? Would distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the victim to the hospital if you drove them there yourself? Always remember, that while driving someone to the emergency room may seem like the quickest option, ambulances have trained medical professionals and equipment to begin treating the victim on the way to the emergency room and are able to communicate with the hospital before arrival about the victim's condition. "No one should ever drive themselves to the emergency room or have a loved one do it as well, I suggest calling 911.An emergency responder has the training to treat you at that moment to give the proper care once they arrive on the scene and do an assessment for lifesaving purposes at the time of an emergency," says Wyatt.

In short, now may be a good time to put together an emergency medical plan with family members and your family doctor. Don't forget it is always wise to have a list of health conditions and any medications you currently take available to emergency medical team members and family. Your life may one day depend on it.