Emergency rooms treat patients with life-threatening conditions who need care immediately, such as when there is:
- Serious risk to the health of the individual, or to a pregnant woman or her unborn child.
- Serious impairment to bodily functions.
- Serious dysfunction of any body organ or part.
According to the American College of Emergency Medicine, emergency conditions include:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Fainting.
- Chest pain or pressure.
- Uncontrolled bleeding.
- Coughing or vomiting blood.
- Sudden severe pain.
- Poisoning.
- Major injuries, such as broken bones.
- Sudden facial drooping or weakness in an arm or leg.
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