What is a Medical Emergency?
WHEN IN DOUBT CALL 9-1-1 .... DO NOT HESITATE OR DELAY HELP!!

WHEN TO CALL AN AMBULANCE:
In a medical emergency, calling for an ambulance could mean the difference between life and death. However, people sometimes hesitate to call because they are not sure if the situation qualifies as an emergency. If in doubt, always call 9-1-1. The people who take your call are trained to help you and will direct you to the appropriate resources.  

WHAT IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY:
Always call 9-1-1 for an ambulance in the following circumstances:

Unconscious person – who doesn’t wake or respond when shaken.
Heart attack (suspected) – crushing chest pain that lasts more than five minutes. The pain may spread to arms and jaw.
Breathing difficulty – especially if the person is unable to speak more than a few words or has blue lips or mouth.
Abdominal pain – that is severe and undiagnosed.
Hemorrhages – major uncontrolled bleeding.
Bleeding – that does not stop after at least 10 minutes of continuous pressure.
Back pain (severe) – after a fall or after sudden onset of back pain if over 50 years of age.
Burns – which are bigger than the size of a hand and/or cause severe pain that is not relieved with simple painkillers, or if the person has difficulty breathing.
Choking – especially if the person is unable to talk, cry or breathe.
Convulsions or fitting – if the person is still fitting as you phone 9-1-1 or if they have no history of convulsions (for example epilepsy or brain injury).
Drowning, near drowning, diving or scuba accident.
Stroke (possible) – especially if the person experiences numbness, loss of function of hand, arm or leg, slurred speech, facial droop or severe abrupt headache.
Headache (severe) – not the usual kind, with or without loss of function of arm or leg.
Motor vehicle accidents – if you think someone has been injured.
Industrial accidents – where a person is injured or trapped.
Vaginal bleeding (severe) – with possible or confirmed pregnancy.
Suicide attempt.
Pain (severe) after a fall or injury – when the person is unable to sit up, stand or walk.
Drug overdose or poisoning – whether you know for sure or just suspect an overdose.
Diabetes – if the person is not fully awake or not behaving normally.
Allergic reaction – especially with difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness.
Electrical shock – of any kind.
Trauma (injury) – which is severe, especially to the head, neck, chest or abdomen – for example if the person was stabbed, shot or impaled, or hit by or ran into an object.
Meningococcal disease – if symptoms indicate possible infection.
Hypothermia or heat stress – which is severe.

** If you’re not sure, call anyway **
Remember, if you are unsure that what is happening is a real emergency, you can always phone for an ambulance and they will come and assess the situation. The Ambulance can always attend, assess and then leave the person at home if they do not require further emergency treatment.

HOW TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY:
Once you have decided that the situation is a medical emergency, you will need to call 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance.

You should:
1)  Get to a telephone – if you are providing first aid to the injured person, ask someone else to make the call.
2)  Call out for help if you are by yourself – if no one responds, you may have to leave the injured person briefly to call for an ambulance. It is important to phone for an ambulance as quickly as possible to get the ambulance on the way.
3)  Dial 9-1-1 – you can use a fixed, mobile, or pay telephone. 9-1-1 is a free call (even from a pay phone).