Health emergencies are exactly like they sound—scary situations that can be hard to navigate and prepare for. They’re not fun situations to be in, and the situation could get much worse if you make the wrong choices. There are some key mistakes to avoid if you’re in a health emergency because they could put you in a worse position to get the help you need.

Calling Loved Ones First

When you’re in an emergency situation, your first instinct may be to call loved ones. The people you love want to know what’s happening to you and can help, but the longer you wait to call emergency services, the more danger you could be in. Time is of the essence at times like these, and calling loved ones instead of 911 could make a big difference.

Not Going to the Doctor

The term health emergency evokes the idea of someone in a visible life-or-death situation, but these emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. Many of them aren’t as obvious as others, and these can often be some of the most dangerous. When the emergency situation isn’t clear, it’s easy to not go to the doctor and get the help you need.

However, even if you know you have to go to the doctor, you may not understand which doctor to go to. There are important differences between urgent care and primary care doctors, and if you’re in a dangerous situation, you should opt for urgent care. A primary doctor could diagnose an issue, but it may be difficult to see them in a timely manner, and the doctor may not have the emergency tools that urgent care doctors have.

Improperly Following Discharge Instructions

While this comes after your doctor’s visit, it can be one of the most important things you do. Typically, medical visits during a health emergency won’t cure you. Instead, they are a temporary set of instructions to keep yourself healthy after the fact.

The doctors do a lot to help you, but you also have the power to put yourself back in that dangerous position. You’ll typically leave a doctor or hospital with important discharge instructions to follow, and if you want to recover, you need to follow these instructions to the finest detail.

Navigating a health emergency isn’t always the easiest thing, but with the right knowledge, you can pave the way forward and get out of the situation quickly and safely. When you know which mistakes to avoid in a health emergency, you can better find the help you need. Understanding these mistakes also keeps you from ending up in a position that hurts you more.

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