Whenever an illness or injury occurs, you need to decide how serious it is and how soon to get medical care. This will help you choose whether it is best to:

• Call or contact your health care provider

• Go to an urgent care clinic

• Go to an emergency department right away

It pays to think about the right place to go. Treatment in an emergency department can cost 2 to 3 times more than the same care in your provider's office. In addition, your health insurance may require you to pay a higher copayment for care in an emergency department.

When to use the emergency room - adult:  National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine

Content added June 25, 2025

When to call 911

• Choking

• Stopped breathing

• Head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion

• Injury to neck or spine, particularly if there is loss of feeling or inability to move

• Electric shock or lightning strike

• Severe burn

• Severe chest pain or pressure

• Severe shortness of breath

• Seizure that lasted more than 1 minute or from which the person does not rapidly awaken

• Suddenly not able to speak, see, walk, or move

• Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body