The 411 on When to Call 911
Know What to Do in an Emergency
You or someone you are with starts to experience a medical emergency. Do you
know what to do? For many medical emergencies, like heart attack and stroke,
getting immediate treatment is critical. How do you know when to call 911 and
when it’s best to drive the person to the emergency department?
Ask Yourself the Following Questions:
- Is the condition life-threatening?
- Could the condition worsen and become life-threatening on the way to the
hospital?
- Could moving cause further injury?
- Does the person need the skills/equipment of paramedics or emergency
medical technicians?
- Could distance, traffic, or weather conditions cause a delay in getting
to the hospital?
- Could a paramedic help decide which hospital can best care for the
condition?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes or you’re not sure, call 911
for an ambulance. Even if you think you can get to the hospital faster by
driving, 911 can bring many of the lifesaving skills and medications right to
you and start care sooner. Emergency crews are trained to begin medical
treatment on the way to the hospital, and they can also alert the Emergency
Department in advance to the patient’s condition.
When You Call 911 Remember to:
- Speak calmly and clearly.
- Give name, address, phone number, exact location of victim, and nature
of problem.
- Don’t hang up until the dispatcher indicates you can.
- The 911 dispatcher can offer some basic care for you to perform while
waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
