When to Visit the Emergency Room

Emergency Room visits are meant only for serious illness and injury, including medical, surgical, or psychiatric care:

• Change in mental status (such as confusion)
• Chest pain and/or left arm pain (heart attack warning signs)
• Coughing blood or vomiting blood
• Evaluation of assault, physical or sexual abuse, or child abuse
• If you’re pregnant and have vaginal bleeding or pelvic/abdominal pain
• Injured neck or spinal cord, severe head injury
• Loss of consciousness
• Major injuries, such as bones poking through skin
• Possible drug overdose or poisoning
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing/swallowing
• Seizures
• Serious cuts (cuts that won't stop bleeding or wounds that won't close) and infections
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe burns
• Severe pain
• Severe or persistent vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration
• Stroke symptoms, including slurred speech, lost or double vision, and others
• Sudden dizziness, weakness, or changes in vision
• Thoughts of suicide or acts of self-harm

*The symptoms above are guidelines and not a complete list.

Where to Go for Care

Check out our Where to Go for Care page to learn more about the care differences between primary care, urgent care, and emergency room care.