What are different conditions for which you must call an ambulance?

There are several situations in which it is advisable to call an ambulance, including:

1. Chest pain or difficulty breathing: These may be signs of a heart attack and require immediate medical attention. Door-to-balloon time, also known as or D2B time, refers to the time it takes from the moment a patient arrives at the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack to the moment they receive treatment to reopen a blocked coronary artery. This treatment, known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), typically involves using a balloon catheter to expand a blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery. Research has shown that patients who receive treatment within this time frame are more likely to have a good outcome after their heart attack. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a type of heart attack caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery. Research has shown that patients who receive treatment within this time frame are more likely to have a good outcome after their heart attack. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea, it is important to call 911 or seek medical attention immediately. The sooner a person receives treatment for a heart attack, the better their chances of a full recovery.
2. Unconsciousness: If a person is unconscious and is not responding to your attempts to wake them up, call an ambulance.
3. Severe bleeding: If a person is bleeding heavily and you are unable to stop the bleeding, call an ambulance.
4. Seizures: If a person is having a seizure and it lasts longer than a few minutes, or if the person has trouble breathing after the seizure, call an ambulance.
5. Suspected stroke: If a person is showing signs of a stroke, such as weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or vision loss, call an ambulance. Door-to-needle time, also known as door-to-puncture time, refers to the time it takes from the moment a patient arrives at the hospital with symptoms of a stroke to the moment they receive treatment with a clot-busting drug. Clot-busting drugs, also known as thrombolytics, can be effective in treating strokes caused by a blood clot, but they must be given as soon as possible to be most effective. Therefore, it is important for hospitals to have a system in place to quickly identify stroke patients and get them the treatment they need. The American Heart Association recommends a door-to-needle time of 60 minutes or less for stroke patients receiving thrombolytic therapy. Research has shown that patients who receive treatment within this time frame are more likely to have a good outcome after their stroke. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a stroke, it is important to call 911 or seek medical attention immediately. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the better their chances of a full recovery.

An acute stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the better their chances of a full recovery.

There are several signs and symptoms that may indicate an acute stroke, including:

1. Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
2. Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding others
3. Sudden vision loss in one or both eyes
4. Sudden difficulty walking or loss of balance
5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to call 911 or seek medical attention immediately. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away on their own, as time is of the essence in treating a stroke.

How to Recognize a Stroke quickly: Use acronym “BE FAST”

B – BALANCE

The person may suddenly have trouble with balance or coordination.

E – EYES

They could experience sudden blurred, double or total loss of vision. This can happen in one or both eyes.

F – FACE

Do you notice one side of their face drooping? Ask the person to smile.

A – ARMS

Are they experiencing weakness in one arm? If they raise both arms, does one drift down?

S – SPEECH

Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a short sentence like, “Remember the Alamo.” Do they repeat the sentence correctly?

T – TIME TO GET HELP

6. Serious injuries: If a person has been in a serious accident or has suffered a severe injury, call an ambulance. This is of course obvious.

7. Severe allergic reaction: If a person is experiencing symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or hives, call an ambulance.

8. Overdose: If a person has overdosed on a medication or substance, call an ambulance.

It is important to remember that these are just examples, and there may be other situations in which it is advisable to call an ambulance. If you are unsure whether to call an ambulance, it is better to be safe and call for help.