ER or urgent care? When to go to the emergency room
Call 911 right away for
- Someone is choking or has stopped breathing
- A head injury with passing out, fainting or confusion
- A neck or spine injury, especially with loss of feeling or movement
- Electric shock or a lightning strike
- A severe burn
- Severe chest pain or pressure
- Severe shortness of breath
- A seizure lasting more than 1 minute, or the person does not wake up soon
- Suddenly cannot speak, see, walk or move
- Sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body
Go to an emergency room (or call 911) for
- Trouble breathing
- Passing out or fainting
- Pain in the arm or jaw
- A bad or unusual headache, especially if it started suddenly
- Dizziness or weakness that does not go away
- Breathing in smoke or poisonous fumes
- Sudden confusion
- Heavy bleeding
- A possible broken bone, especially if the bone is pushing through the skin
- A deep wound or serious burn
- Coughing up or throwing up blood
- Severe pain anywhere in the body
- A severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling or hives
- A high fever with headache and stiff neck, or a high fever that does not come down with medicine
- Vomiting or diarrhea that does not stop
- Poisoning or an overdose of medicine, drugs or alcohol
Find the nearest emergency rooms →
Mental health crisis
If you or someone else may hurt themselves or others, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free, 24/7) or chat at 988lifeline.org. In an emergency call 911. Do not leave the person alone.
Urgent care is usually enough for
If the problem is not life-threatening but you cannot see your own doctor soon:
- Colds, flu, earaches or a sore throat
- A migraine or a low fever
- A rash in a small area
- Sprains or back pain
- Minor cuts or burns
- Minor broken bones or minor eye injuries
Not sure? Ask first
Call your doctor's office (after hours, calls often go to a nurse on call) or your health plan's nurse advice line, describe the symptoms and ask what to do. Save these numbers in your phone now: your doctor, the nearest emergency room, a nurse advice line and an urgent care clinic.
Common questions
When should I call 911 instead of driving to the ER?
Call 911 when a life could be at risk and you cannot wait: choking, stopped breathing, severe chest pain, stroke signs, a seizure over 1 minute, a severe burn or a serious head, neck or spine injury.
What can urgent care treat?
Problems that are not life-threatening when you cannot see your own doctor soon: colds, flu, earaches, sore throats, sprains, minor cuts and burns, and minor broken bones.
Is the ER more expensive than urgent care?
Usually yes. MedlinePlus notes that emergency care can cost 2 to 3 times more than the same care at a doctor's office, and insurance copays are often higher. Never let cost stop you from getting emergency care.
Source: MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "When to use the emergency room - adult". Written in plain language by US Patient Guide; not medical advice.