When is your illness an emergency?
- November 2002
To go to the Emergency Department or not is often a question we have when we’re feeling unwell at home. Hospital Emergency Departments across Niagara are extremely busy this time of year and there may be a wait of several hours for patients who do not have a life-threatening condition.
Sometimes it is difficult to know whether your problem is serious or not. Here are some examples of when you should go to the Emergency Department or call 911.
- When you are experiencing chest pains or tightness in the chest
- When you have severe pain
- When you have shortness of breath
- When a person is choking or having difficulty breathing
- When you think you may have fractured or broken a bone or have a wound that may need stitches
- When you have sudden, severe headaches, vision problems, sudden weakness, trouble speaking, dizziness, numbness and/or tingling in the face, arm or leg
- If your child has diarrhea and vomiting and won’t eat or drink
- When a baby under 6 months has a fever over 38.5 C or 101 F
If you are still unsure as to whether to go to an Emergency Department, call Telehealth Ontario, a toll-free telephone health advice line. Registered Nurses are there 24 hours a day to offer advice, after asking a battery of questions on your current health status. They will suggest you may be able to self-heal, can wait to make a doctor’s appointment, or advise going to an Emergency Department immediately. Call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. As well, many physicians’ offices prefer their patients to contact them before going to an Emergency Department or walk-in clinic for after-hours care. Check with your physician to find out what after-hour services they can provide.
Unlike other services, when you arrive at the Emergency Department, you will not be seen on a first come, first served basis. A triage nurse will see you first to determine the acuity or seriousness of your illness. Triage is a method used by both nurses and ambulance paramedics to determine how life-threatening a patient’s condition is. How soon you are seen by a doctor will depend on how sick or how badly injured you are, not by time of arrival. The sickest patients are seen first. If your condition worsens while you are waiting, it's important to let the triage nurse know.
You can often avoid health problems by simply being prepared. Here is a checklist to consider:
- Call your doctor's office and local pharmacy: Find out what their hours are and ask about any back-up coverage arrangements.
- Get a flu shot: Your family doctor can offer this service or refer you to the nearest clinic that does.
- Medications and Medical equipment: Make sure that everyone in your family has a sufficient supply of their medications on hand, both prescription and non-prescription. Don't forget needles, alcohol swabs, etc. Also check out inhalers, respirators, oxygen, and glucose testing machines.
- Batteries: Have extra batteries on hand for equipment such as electric wheelchairs.
- Medical Checkups: If you're due for a checkup or tests, try to schedule them before the Christmas holidays.
- Update all emergency telephone numbers and post them in a visible place (eg. your refrigerator).
How You Can Help!
- Have your Ontario Health Card with you when you come to Emergency
- Bring a list of the all the medications that you take on a regular basis along with any other important information like allergies
- While you are waiting for treatment, please do not eat or drink without first checking with a nurse
- If you decide to leave before being seen by a doctor, please talk with a nurse.
On behalf of Niagara’s hospitals, its doctors, nurses, paramedics and support personnel, we appreciate your patience and understanding.