When to Call an Ambulance: A Guide for Decision Making
One night in college a friend called asking me to drive him to the hospital. “What’s wrong?” I asked. He responded that he was having an allergic reaction and might go into anaphylactic shock. I immediately instructed him to call an ambulance. But he said this had happened before and his bank account was drained from the last time he called an ambulance. He simply could not afford another ambulance bill.
Ever since that night I’ve wondered, “When do we need an ambulance and when is it okay to drive to the hospital?” Like everything else in life, the answer is not black and white, but depends on a number of factors.
When you should definitely call an ambulance
Life-Threatening Situations: Any situation where the person's life is in immediate danger warrants calling an ambulance. This includes severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, severe bleeding, sudden confusion, or an altered mental state.
Suspected Heart Attack or Stroke: Time is of the essence in cases of heart attacks or strokes. Calling an ambulance ensures that the person receives immediate medical attention, potentially reducing the risk of long-term complications or death.
Moving the person may cause further injury: If there's a possibility of a spinal injury due to trauma, it's crucial not to move the person. EMS are trained to properly extract people with minimal risk of exacerbating the injury.
Would-be driver is unfit to drive: If you are inebriated or are also injured, then you should not be driving someone else. In addition, if you are underage, an emergency situation is not the best time to complete your Driver’s Ed hours. Be honest and call an ambulance instead.
Some Considerations
Severity of the Situation: Assess the severity of the medical condition. Do any of the above scenarios apply? If so, calling an ambulance is advisable. For less urgent situations, driving to the hospital may be appropriate.
Urgency of Care: Consider the urgency of medical care needed. Ambulances are equipped with medical supplies and staffed with trained professionals who can provide immediate care en route to the hospital. If time is critical, calling an ambulance ensures prompt access to medical attention.
Safety Concerns: Assess safety considerations, particularly if the person's condition could deteriorate during transit. Determine if there is sufficient time to transport the individual to the hospital safely. In critical situations where time is of the essence, prioritizing immediate interventions such as applying pressure to a bleeding wound or performing CPR may be more beneficial than transporting the person to the hospital yourself.
Traffic and Distance to Hospital: Consider factors such as traffic conditions and distance to the hospital. Ambulances have priority access and can navigate through traffic more efficiently, especially during emergencies. If the hospital is nearby and traffic is light, driving may be a viable option.
Cost Considerations and Financial Constraints: Assess the financial implications of transportation options. Ambulance services can be expensive, and coverage varies depending on insurance policies, with some plans covering emergencies while others requiring copayments or imposing restrictions. Driving to the hospital may be more cost-effective and there are several options– call a friend, hail a taxi, order a ride share– but keep in mind that these alternatives may not appreciate blood in their backseat!
Waiting for Help to Arrive
Perhaps the ambulance is delayed by heavy traffic or maybe the injury occurred off the beaten path (hiking trail, fair ground, etc.) and it will take awhile for help to arrive. When waiting, having the right gear on hand can make a significant difference in providing immediate assistance and maintaining the person's stability. Here's a list of essential gear from Amazon that can be helpful while waiting for an ambulance:
First Aid Kit: A well-stocked first aid kit should contain bandages, adhesive tape, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers, and disposable gloves.
Flashlight: A flashlight can help assess the situation, locate injuries, and signal for help if necessary. See our other posts on flashlights.
Tourniquet and Hemostatic Dressings: In cases of severe bleeding, having a tourniquet and hemostatic dressings can help control bleeding until professional medical help arrives. However, proper training is essential for the correct application of these devices!
Medication List and Medical History: Medication and medical information can be crucial for emergency responders to provide appropriate treatment (i.e. they don’t inadvertently make it worse). There are lots of neat bracelets on the market that allow for custom engravings but this QR code unisex bracelet is extra cool because it can be updated and is not space-limited.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision to call an ambulance or transport the person to the hospital yourself depends on the specific circumstances of the medical emergency, including the severity of the situation, urgency of care needed, safety considerations, and availability of resources. When in doubt, it's best to err on the side of caution and call for professional medical assistance.
In my case, I ended up driving my friend to the hospital against my better judgment. We made it safely and he was fine, but still I wonder if it was the right choice.
Disclaimer
While I hope this blog post has provided valuable insights into handling emergency situations, I am not a medical professional. The information presented here is for educational and informational purposes only, and I strongly advise consulting with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical advice. Your safety and well-being are paramount, and seeking professional guidance is always the best course of action.
