When to call 911?
                     When to call 911?
Emergency Help
• Emergencies are 
situations where law 
enforcement, 
firefighters, or medical 
help is needed right 
away
• 9-1-1 is for emergencies 
only. Know when to call 
9-1-1 and when to seek 
other types of help
Source: www.fcva.us
Trust your Gut
• One of your most powerful tools 
is your own observation. Most of 
us have a sense for when a 
situation is dangerous. 
• If your instinct or intuition tells 
you it’s serious, call 911 or go to 
the nearest emergency room. It’s 
always better to err on the side 
of caution when it comes to your 
health.
Source: www.fcva.us
Chest Pain
• If you have chest pain or 
pressure that lasts more than a 
couple of minutes, or if it comes 
back, it’s time to call 911. 
• You shouldn’t try to drive 
yourself or a loved one with 
these symptoms. The ambulance 
has special equipment and 
trained people who can help you 
more quickly.
Source: www.fcva.us
Shortness of Breath
• If it happens suddenly and is 
keeping you from your everyday 
activities, have someone drive 
you to the emergency room. Call 
911 if it’s severe or if you also 
have nausea or chest pain or 
you pass out. 
• You could be having a heart 
attack or pulmonary embolism (a 
blood clot in your lung).
Source: www.fcva.us
Vision Problems
• Call 911 if you suddenly have 
blurry vision, double vision, or 
loss of vision. That can be a sign 
of stroke or other serious illness. 
You also should call 911 if you 
have trouble seeing and have a 
bad headache, nausea or 
vomiting, numbness, weakness, 
dizziness, confusion, or trouble 
talking. 
Source: www.fcva.us
Burns
• Get to the emergency room if the burn is on a large part of your 
hands or on your feet, face, buttocks, groins, or one of your big 
joints, like your knees or elbows. 
• Also get emergency medical attention if you have blisters, 
splotchy skin (second-degree burn), or if it’s bigger than 3 
inches or charred or white (third-degree burn).
Source: www.fcva.us
Head Injury
• A bump on the head can be serious and need immediate 
medical care if you pass out, have a seizure, or have a 
headache that won’t go away, persistent vomiting or nausea, 
slurred speech, or you feel confused, weak, numb, or less 
coordinated.
Source: www.fcva.us
Deep Cuts
• If you can see yellow fatty tissue under the first layer of skin, 
you should get to the emergency room. It will need quick 
attention if it won’t close or if it’s on your face, neck, genitals, or 
across a joint. You should also go if you were bitten by a 
person or animal, cut with a dirty or rusty object, or you’re 
bleeding badly or have a foreign object stuck in the cut.
Source: www.fcva.us
Stomach Pain
• If it lasts more than 30 
minutes, especially if it’s 
sudden and intense -- you 
should seek emergency 
medical care. 
• Pain that doesn’t get better 
or happens with vomiting 
could be something serious 
like an inflamed appendix, 
which may need to come out 
very quickly.
Source: www.fcva.us
High Fever
• If a baby younger than 3 months old has a temperature of 
more than 100.4 F, they need to be seen right away. This is 
also true for a child between 3 months and 3 years old with a 
fever of 102.2 F and an adult who has a fever of 104 F or 
higher. 
Source: www.fcva.us