🚨 Medical Emergency Guide

• Face drooping (ask to smile)
• Arm weakness (raise both arms)
• Speech difficulty (repeat simple phrase)
• Time to call 911 immediately

Other signs: Sudden numbness, confusion, vision problems, dizziness, severe headache

1. CALL 911 immediately (don't drive yourself)
2. Note time symptoms started (critical for tPA)
3. Keep person calm and lying on side if vomiting
4. Do NOT give food, drink, or aspirin

• Chest pressure/pain (squeezing, fullness)
• Pain radiating to arm, neck, jaw, back
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness
• Women: May have fatigue, indigestion, back pain

1. CALL 911 (faster than driving to ER)
2. Chew 325mg aspirin (if not allergic)
3. Sit/lie down, stay calm
4. Take nitroglycerin if prescribed
5. Loosen tight clothing

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing
• Throat tightness, swelling (lips/tongue)
• Hives, itching, flushed skin
• Dizziness, rapid heartbeat
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Common triggers: Foods (peanuts, shellfish), insect stings, medications

1. Use EPINEPHRINE auto-injector (EpiPen) in thigh
2. CALL 911 immediately
3. Lie down with legs elevated (if breathing okay)
4. Second dose in 5-15 min if no improvement
5. Go to hospital even if better (rebound can occur)

• Shivering, fever, or very cold
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Pale or discolored skin
• Sleepy, confused, difficult to rouse
• I feel like I might die
• Short of breath

Plus: Rapid heart rate (>90), rapid breathing (>20), low BP

1. CALL 911 - say "I suspect sepsis"
2. Monitor breathing and circulation
3. Keep warm if cold, cool if feverish
4. Do NOT wait - sepsis kills in hours

• Fever with severe headache
• Stiff neck (can't touch chin to chest)
• Confusion, drowsiness
• Sensitivity to light
• Nausea, vomiting
• Rash: Purple spots that don't fade with pressure

1. CALL 911 - say "suspected meningitis"
2. Keep in quiet, dark room
3. Monitor breathing and consciousness
4. Do NOT wait for rash - by then it may be too late

• Talking about wanting to die or kill self
• Looking for means (guns, pills, ropes)
• Feeling hopeless, trapped, unbearable pain
• Giving away prized possessions
• Saying goodbye, withdrawing from others
• Sudden mood improvement after depression

1. Ask directly: "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"
2. Listen without judgment
3. Do NOT leave alone
4. Remove means (guns, pills, sharp objects)
5. Call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911

• Severe wheezing or silent chest
• Can't speak in full sentences
• Blue lips or fingernails
• Sucking in between ribs/above collarbone
• Rapid breathing, using neck muscles
• Peak flow < 50% of personal best

1. Use quick-relief inhaler (albuterol) - 4-8 puffs
2. If no improvement in 20 min or any red flag → CALL 911
3. Sit upright, stay calm
4. Loosen tight clothing
5. Do not lie down

• Sudden severe abdominal/pelvic pain (often one side)
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness
• Shoulder pain (from blood irritating diaphragm)
• Fast heartbeat, pale skin

Any woman of childbearing age with abdominal pain + positive pregnancy test

1. CALL 911 - this is surgical emergency
2. Lie down, keep calm
3. Do NOT eat or drink anything
4. Monitor breathing and consciousness
5. Keep warm if shocky

• Pain out of proportion to injury
• Paresthesia (tingling/numbness)
• Pallor (pale skin)
• Paralysis (can't move fingers/toes)
• Pulselessness (late sign)
• Poikilothermia (cool limb)

Usually after trauma/fracture. Most reliable: severe pain with passive stretching

1. CALL 911 - needs emergency surgery
2. Do NOT elevate limb (worsens blood flow)
3. Loosen constrictive dressings/casts
4. Keep limb at heart level
5. Monitor neurovascular status

• Unresponsive, can't be awakened
• Slow or no breathing
• Blue/purple lips or fingernails
• Pinpoint pupils
• Limp body, pale/clammy skin
• Choking or gurgling sounds

1. CALL 911
2. Give NALOXONE (Narcan) - nasal or injection
3. Check breathing - if not breathing, start rescue breaths/CPR
4. Place in recovery position if breathing
5. Stay until help arrives - overdose can return