Looking for emergency room numbers near you? First, ask yourself one simple questions, it may just save your life:
Are you experiencing a life threatening emergency? Then get off the computer and call 911 immediately!
Life threatening emergencies include things like trouble breathing, severe burns, seizures, head injuries, heart attacks, and spinal injuries. If you aren’t experiencing a life threatening emergency, but you still need medical care today, then it’s still crucial to consider your three options:
- Visit a local emergency room near me
- Find an urgent care clinic that’s open
- Call your doctor and make an appointment for later
Why shouldn’t you just call or drop by the emergency room?
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, medical care in an emergency room can easily cost two or three times than it would in your doctor’s office. Plus, there are now thousands of urgent care clinics around the country offering healthcare for people who can’t afford to wait for an appointment, but can’t afford to pay for an expensive emergency room bill.
Remember, when you call an emergency room number they will most likely try and determine your location before doing anything else. Because most people now call the emergency room number from a cell phone instead of a landline, the ER staff needs to make sure you’re calling the right number. So don’t be surprised if they ask you a lot of questions first.
What kind of situations call for a visit to the emergency room? This isn’t an exhaustive list, but the NIH recommends visiting your local ER if you’re experiencing:
- Broken bone, especially if the bone is poking through the skin
- Coughing or throwing up blood
- Severe allergic reactions, especially when accompanied by trouble breathing and swelling
- Sudden confusion
- Dizziness that won’t go away
- Severe pain that won’t go away and makes it impossible to function
- A deep wound or heavy bleeding
- Suicidal thoughs
- Drug overdose
On the other hand, more common illnesses like colds, flus, migraines, minor sprains, minor broken bones, and similar injuries might be better treated at an urgent care clinic. Because emergency rooms treat the most critical patients first, going to an ER with minor injury or illnesses ensure a long wait and a large bill.
Finally, don’t wait for an emergency to learn emergency room numbers, especially if you’re the parent, guardian, or caretaker for others.