When to call the "bus" - A guide to calling EMS

Antique ambulance from New Jersey



Before I get too far into my blog, I probably should explain what I mean by the term "bus". It is a term that is part pet-name, part sarcasm for a transporting Emergency Medical Service (EMS) unit or ambulance. EMT's - and firefighter's - dubbed the unit's "buses" because so many folks have gotten into the habit of calling them even if emergency transportation isn't really needed.

First of all, just so there won't be any confusion, I'm not saying don't call EMS . . . I'm just trying to give you an idea of what is a life threatening  emergency and what can be handled by a routine doctor's visit.

Uncontrollable bleeding -

In most cases, bleeding can be controlled by applying direct pressure to the wound for anywhere from three (3) to five (5) minutes. However, with situations such as a head injury, bleeding is often heavy and difficult to control. 911 (or your local emergency number) should be called immediately.

Chest pain / difficulty breathing -

Chest pains and/or difficulty breathing can often be the first symptom of a heart attack (also known as a Myocardial Infarction or MI) (Pictured at left). If you - or a loved one - are experiencing these symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) as soon as possible.




Stroke -

A stroke (pictured at left) is the rapidly developing loss of brain function(s) due to a disturbance in blood flow to the brain. If you encounter someone who is experiencing difficulty speaking, sudden-onset facial weakness, and "arm drift" (if the person attempts to raise both arms simultaneously, one tends to involuntarily drift downward), notify 911 immediately.

Now that I've explained conditions that are considered a medical emergency, I will describe some non-emergency situations that are better handled by your family doctor.

Sore throat -

A sore throat is caused by Pharyngitis - an inflammation of throat or pharnyx - and is not considered a medical emergency. To be honest, if I had a penny for everytime I've heard an EMS unit dispatched on a "person sick with a sore throat" (usually in the wee hours of the morning) I would be independently wealthy!






Earache -

An earache can be the result of disease in the ear, however, it can also be caused by impacted teeth, sinus problems, or inflammed tonsils. Like a sore throat, there is very little - if anything - EMS can do for this condition and is probably better served by a visit to your family physician.




I hope this might better help you to decide when to call 911 for EMS assistance and when it's just an annoyance that could be better handled by your family physician.

Until next time . . .