The Urgency of Emergency (4pg)

The Urgency of Emergency

HOW OUR HOMETOWN ER SAVES LIVES

We hope it never happens to you or a loved one, but our hospital’s Emergency Department can be a real life saver. For heart attacks, strokes, life-threatening injuries and a host of other serious medical conditions, fast access to emergency medical care is critical. For example, in cases of heart attacks or strokes, there is a three-hour window from the start of the symptoms in which the arteries must be unblocked. After that, medications are much less effective.

Our hospital’s Emergency Department features expert physician specialists, state-of-the-art equipment, comprehensive surgical capabilities and the resources of a full-service hospital close to home. Unfortunately, all that medical care doesn’t do any good if you don’t take advantage of it in an emergency. It is estimated that 500,000 Americans die unnecessarily every year because they don’t receive the required medical care quickly enough from a physician or Emergency Room. In many cases, people simply don’t take their symptoms seriously. They make the mistake of thinking the pain, bleeding or difficulty breathing will simply go away. Some people don’t want to appear foolish rushing to the hospital on a false alarm. Others don’t want to bother or worry loved ones by telling them about their symptoms, especially in the middle of the night.

So when do you need to go to the ER?

Signs that someone may need immediate medical care:

• Sudden or severe pain that doesn’t go away, including headache or abdominal pain

• Chest pain

• Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath

• Sudden changes in mental status

• Uncontrolled bleeding

• Headaches with a stiff neck or fever

And remember, if you’re not sure whether someone needs immediate medical care, it is always better to play it safe and go to your local ER, even if you find out your trip was unnecessary.

Words: 310