When to use 911

Trauma Columnist · Apr 27, 2003

You did good. I'm an ER nurse and volunteer EMS.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 27, 2003

You did good. I'm an ER nurse and volunteer EMS.

petiteflower · Apr 27, 2003

I agree ---I volunteer EMS also--and I have hauled and seen ALOT of patients in ER who have called for much less.

petiteflower · Apr 27, 2003

I agree ---I volunteer EMS also--and I have hauled and seen ALOT of patients in ER who have called for much less.

911fltrn · Apr 27, 2003

Call 911 because you have a headache for 2 hours and your to stupid to try motrin or tylenol. Call 911 cause you stubbed your toe 2 months ago and it still hurts. Call 911 because the waiting room is to full and you want to be seen faster. Call 911 cause the nurse wont give you a glass of water right after you threw up on her! Oh sorry these arent good reasons to call 911 but have seen them all happen and many more similiar ones. R.N. to medic please get them off the gurney and send them to triage. A good rule when to call 911 life threatening illness or injury or anytime your not sure its not life or limb threatening.

911fltrn · Apr 27, 2003

Call 911 because you have a headache for 2 hours and your to stupid to try motrin or tylenol. Call 911 cause you stubbed your toe 2 months ago and it still hurts. Call 911 because the waiting room is to full and you want to be seen faster. Call 911 cause the nurse wont give you a glass of water right after you threw up on her! Oh sorry these arent good reasons to call 911 but have seen them all happen and many more similiar ones. R.N. to medic please get them off the gurney and send them to triage. A good rule when to call 911 life threatening illness or injury or anytime your not sure its not life or limb threatening.

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · Apr 27, 2003

I might have called the direct line to the ambulance. Explain the situation. I live in a small community. They only have 4 ambulances. So you could explain it is not life threatening but does need to be treated ASAP. At the LTC I used to work at, we had a private number for them. It also depends on facilities too. We were never allowed to call 911 for hospice patients or DNR patients. Even if it were a case where they had fallen, and had an open gash needed stitches. We had to call the direct line. Check your policies. But it sounds like you did the best thing at the time. It is hard in that situation.

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · Apr 27, 2003

I might have called the direct line to the ambulance. Explain the situation. I live in a small community. They only have 4 ambulances. So you could explain it is not life threatening but does need to be treated ASAP. At the LTC I used to work at, we had a private number for them. It also depends on facilities too. We were never allowed to call 911 for hospice patients or DNR patients. Even if it were a case where they had fallen, and had an open gash needed stitches. We had to call the direct line. Check your policies. But it sounds like you did the best thing at the time. It is hard in that situation.

sixes · Apr 27, 2003

Good call. I had a very large lady stuck in the bath tub. No matter how hard we tried I couldn't get her out.

We in the north don't have 911. So I called our local fire dept and they sent out EMS.

We got the job done and I never put her in the tub without the assist chair again.

sixes · Apr 27, 2003

Good call. I had a very large lady stuck in the bath tub. No matter how hard we tried I couldn't get her out.

We in the north don't have 911. So I called our local fire dept and they sent out EMS.

We got the job done and I never put her in the tub without the assist chair again.

prmenrs, RN · Apr 27, 2003

I would've called 911, too.

prmenrs, RN · Apr 27, 2003

I would've called 911, too.