People have kids, office jobs, and other responsibilities at home that can prevent them from picking up and going straight to their primary care physician or the hospital when medical attention is needed. In these cases, It’s important to prepare for the possibility that we might need to administer a little bit of first aid to ourselves, or seek medical attention after normal business hours.
While most primary care physicians (PCPs) are open during business hours only, there are many other types of medical clinics and facilities that can meet your unexpected medical needs. Knowing your community’s resources and making a plan ahead of time are two great ways to prepare for medical emergencies. Read on to learn more about how to be ready for the unexpected.
Know when to seek medical attention:
When you’re not sure if you should go to the emergency room (ER), it’s best to err on the side of caution. If possible, make the trip. If it’s not clear if it is an emergency or not, call your doctor and let them be the judge. Try to avoid drawing conclusions based on internet research. It’s easy to get nervous reading about all of the things that could possibly be wrong–so let the experts make a determination!
Self-Evaluation:
At some point we will all get sick and/or injured. It’s a good idea to know which signs and symptoms of illness indicate a more severe issue that could need immediate medical attention. Here are some symptoms that you can evaluate for yourself and which should be taken seriously if present:
- High fever: especially if it is 103 degrees fahrenheit or higher (39 degrees Celsius). Fever above 102 degrees fahrenheit (38.8 C) for more than two days in a row may be dangerous for infants, children, and adults with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that if a child has a temperature over 100.4 F (38 C), call their doctor immediately because this could be a sign of serious illness such as meningitis or pneumonia.
- Rash: rash that does not go away after taking antihistamines like Benadryl or Claritin
- Pain: pain occurring in the chest or abdomen
- Vomiting or diarrhea: that last for more than 24 hours
- Difficulty breathing: such as shortness of breath, severe wheezing, etc.
- Difficulty walking, talking, or remembering
Be prepared:
To be prepared for an after-hours medical emergency, have a list handy of all the doctors, urgent care facilities and ERs in the area. It should also include their phone numbers and addresses and should be both on paper and on the phone. Add the information into the contacts area for even quicker access!
Do your research to make sure that these providers are open after normal business hours and/or weekends. Make note of the ones close by, preferably within 30 minutes away when driving or taking public transportation. If there’s an emergency situation that can’t wait until morning or even later in the day, driving for half an hour could be the difference between life or death for someone who needs immediate medical attention. If going on foot, take note of any obstacles that may be in the way like traffic lights or busy intersections. Save these directions on the emergency lists as well as emergency contact addresses.
Keep a home pharmacy and first aid kit:
For home or the office, it’s always a good idea to have some basic first aid supplies and over-the-counter medications on hand. This way, if we get sick or injured and need medical attention but can’t get to a medical facility right away, we or someone can help immediately.
The Red Cross recommends that a home/office first aid kit include at a minimum:
- At least 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
- At least 25 adhesive bandages of mixed sized
- 1 roll of adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
- At least 5 packets of antibiotic ointment or one larger tube
- At least 5 antiseptic wipes
- At least 2 packets of aspirin
- At least 1 emergency blanket
- At least 1 breathing barrier to help with assisted breathing (with one-way valve)
- At least 1 instant cold compress
- At least 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves
- At least 2 packets of hydrocortisone ointment or one larger tube
- At least 1 3 in. gauze roll bandage
- At least 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
- Several sizes of sterile gauze pads
- At least 1 oral thermometer
- 2 triangular fabric bandages
- A pair of tweezers
- First Aid instructions
There should also be over-the-counter medications and basic first aid in every home like:
- Tylenol or ibuprofen
- Nasal spray
- Eye drops
- Cough drops and cough medicine
- A thermometer (digital ones are easier than mercury thermometers)
Sometimes it may not be possible to get to a doctor for hours, so having a home first aid kit is essential. The contents of this kit will vary based on who lives in the home and what types of injuries they are likely to sustain (for example, children are likely to get more bumps and bruises than adults).
Summing it up:
Emergencies can come out of nowhere. Being prepared is the best way to handle any unexpected emergencies that spring up in life. Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit, knowing how to use its contents, and having a plan for when and where to seek medical treatment are just a few ways to make sure that we are prepared. While it can be scary when things go wrong, with the right knowledge and tools at hand, there’s a good chance things will turn out okay in the end!
