We’ve all been there. Someone is crying {A kid? A husband? Yourself?} and you just do. not. know. what to do. For me, I usually call my dad and let him adult for me and decide what to do and where to go. A few weeks ago, I accidentally closed the car door on my 3 year old’s little hand {and didn’t stop crying for about a week}, but she was fine and nothing was broken. Dad agreed. Even more recently, I was watching Nailed It {arguably the best show on Netflix, am I right??} and felt a pain radiate from my right shoulder down to under my right breast and under my rib. My pulse was racing and I started feeling dizzy. I used my husband’s at-home blood pressure machine and it was 200/100, so Dad said to the ER I needed to go. Spoiler alert :: it was a UTI and a slew of other minor things wrong with me {BTW, did you know that all of the symptoms I had were consistent with a 1} female heart attack, 2} UTI, 3} probably anything that could go wrong with a woman, ever. So, this led me to start to think about if it was time for me to go to an ER.
When to Choose the ER
Because I am just a blogger/writer {and let’s face it, my dad has zero medical training outside of The Boy Scouts and his 30-something years of parenting}, I consulted the expert, Dr. Foye Ikyaator, at Life Savers Emergency Room to get the scoop ::
What are the differences between an ER attached to a hospital and a stand alone ER?
Dr. Foye Ikyaator :: “That is really the only difference, it is not attached to a hospital. Both freestanding emergency rooms and hospital-based emergency rooms provide treatment for the same kind of emergency conditions. Both also operate 24 hours a day.
Freestandings are usually situated to be accessible. Life Saver Emergency Room is a freestanding emergency room located in a shopping center, which makes it a lot easier to visit. Also, Life Savers Emergency Room can provide you with many conveniences when it comes to time and savings. Not only does Life Savers ER offer no waiting time for their patients, but we also offer flexible payment options. Life Savers is staffed with Board Certified Physicians and technicians who are expertly trained to provide high quality, 24 hour, effective and efficient emergency care.”
When should we go to an ER for adult issues?
Dr. Foye Ikyaator :: “You should always contact your Physician to discuss options; however, it is always better to go to ER and have the reassurance that the issue is non-emergency.
Below are some examples of the reasons to go to ER for Adults::
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Severe abdominal pain
- Mental Confusion
- Bleeding that won’t stop after 10 min or longer
- Coughing up blood
- Suicidal feelings
- Severe allergic reaction, such as to an insect bite”
When should we go to an ER for kid issues?
How can we be prepared to go to an ER?
Dr. Foye Ikyaator :: “Here are some tips on being prepared to go to an ER, like Lifesavers ER, ::
- Bring a family member.
- Have your health history, any major events in your health history.
- Insurance card handy
- List of medications, allergies and major events in your health history
- Copies of any recent medical tests or procedures
- Names of your personal physicians
- Emergency contact information
- Health plan information
- Drivers license or other valid identification”
When should we call 911 versus driving ourselves to the ER?
Dr. Foye Ikyaator :: “You should always take caution if you have the signs and symptoms that you need an ER, but here are a few guidelines to follow ::
- Does the condition seem life threatening? Could it get worse and become life-threatening on the way to the hospital?
- Will you get delayed in traffic?
- If you try to move the person, will it likely lead to more harm?
If you meet any of these guidelines, don’t be a hero. Call 911 or find someone to take you to the ER. If you need medical attention right away, call 911 and they will send someone to take care of you {or your family member}.”
Their freestanding emergency rooms features:
- Advanced Laboratory
- On-Site Pharmacy
- X-Rays
- CT Scans
- 24/7 Doctors
- Medical Assistants
- Nurses
- Radiologists
- Radiology Technologists
For any of your emergency care needs, visit Life Savers Emergency Rooms today!