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Howard University Hospital
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Emergency Rooms Articles
What to Do If There is Immediate Danger to Life or Ability to Function
When first confronted with an illness or injury, you must quickly decide whether the case is life threatening—whether there’s a risk of death or permanent disability if the patient does not receive immediate care (within 30 minutes or less).
What to Do If the Case Is Urgent but Not Life-Threatening
The most difficult decisions involve cases in which you feel safe waiting 30 minutes or more to receive care, but still require treatment at a hospital, rather than at an urgent care clinic or doctor's office.
Cases that Do Not Require Prompt Medical Attention
Many cases are not even urgent, of course. These cases could await a visit to an urgent care clinic or a family doctor during regular hours.