EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTION
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
If someone is showing any of these signs, call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
*This list does contain all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Recognizing medical emergencies
According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency.
In adults:
- Bleeding that will not stop
- Breathing problems (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath)
- Change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing)
- Chest pain or discomfort lasting for two minutes or more
- Choking
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Weak or ineffective coughing
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Feeling of committing suicide or murder
- Head or spine injury
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Sudden injury due to a motor vehicle accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, a deep or large wound, or other injuries
- Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision
- Swallowing a poisonous substance
- Severe abdominal pain or pressure
- Unusual headache
- Inability to speak
- Swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue
- Bluish skin color (cyanosis)
In children:
- Significant change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, irritability)
- Lack of alertness or diminished response
- Increased sleepiness
- Unable to stand or walk
- Trouble or abnormal breathing
- Difficulty in eating or feeding
- Bluish or grey coloration of the skin (cyanosis)
- Seizure
- Fever followed by a change in mental status, stiffness in the neck or back
- Unstoppable bleedingThe feeling
When to call for help
Remember, anytime you are not comfortable with a medical situation, you should call for help. By acting quickly, you may prevent a serious emergency and could save a life.
Call 911