According to recent research, it takes an average of four hours to stay in an emergency room. This compared to millions of people who visit an ER every year, you get an approximate five million hours of waiting to get health care. This is because about 70% of people visit the ER for reasons that are not actual emergencies.

Whenever you or someone you care for encounters an injury or an ailment, it pays to think whether to take them to an ER or not. Calm down and analyze whether the situation is fatal or minor. This will save you money and time later on. Did you know it would cost you three times more to visit an emergency room for a minor injury than to go to your doctor for the same reason? Here are some cases that require you to visit the ER and those that don’t and alternatives to the ER.

hen an illness occurs you can either call your doctor, visit a clinic, rush to the ER or simply visit a pharmacy. Here is how to determine an emergency. If a person or unborn child and its mother’s life are at stake, that is an emergency. Head injuries, injuries to the neck or spine, difficulty or stopped breathing, electrical shock, prolonged seizures heavy bleeding, poisoning and chest pains are all considered emergency. One should visit the ER if they encounter any of the above situations.

Most situations that require medical attention involve some life threatening injury or accident. Sometimes a chronic condition is exacerbated (made worse). In this case, the application of the prudent layperson standard ensures one does not go to the ER for an injury that can be treated faster at an Urgent Care, or at the family physician’s practice.

This however does not mean that you should not seek medical attention if you are not experiencing any of the above symptoms. If the situation is not life threatening or taking a risk at disability, you can visit an urgent care clinic to get help. For symptoms such as flu, colds migraines, rashes, sore throats, minor burns ant cuts or fractured bones it is important to visit a clinic as soon as possible. When you are not sure what to do or don’t have any of the above symptoms, you can opt to call your doctor for advice.

If your infant suffers from common illnesses such as flus and fevers you can visit the clinic or just give then a fever reliever for the same instead of going to an ER. The Prudent Lay rules were created to address numerous issues with determining a true emergency. Elderly and chronically ill people who are aware of their problems should simply know what