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Urgent & emergency

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Urgent & emergencyA Classmate Posted Something Scary Online: How to HelpTake a scary post about dying or self-harm seriously, even if you are unsure it is real. Tell a trusted adult right away, reach out to your classmate to let them know you care, and report the post to the platform. Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for guidance, or 911 if they may be in immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyAnaphylaxis After a Bee Sting: Recognize It and Act ImmediatelyAfter a bee sting, throat tightening, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or hives spreading beyond the sting site signal anaphylaxis — a life-threatening reaction that can close the airway within minutes. Call 911 immediately and use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if available. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyBaby Not Breathing: Call 911 NowIf a baby is not breathing, is unresponsive, or is only gasping, call 911 immediately and shout for help. Begin infant CPR if you know it; a 911 dispatcher can guide you through each step in real time. The 2025 AHA/AAP guidelines recommend giving rescue breaths alongside compressions for infants. Do not delay the call to look up instructions.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyBleeding Badly After Self-Harm: What to Do Right NowIf you are bleeding heavily after self-harm, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room now. Press a clean cloth firmly against the wound and keep holding without lifting it. ER staff treat self-harm wounds without judgment every day. For emotional crisis support, call or text 988 anytime.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyBleeding That Won't Stop: What to Do Right NowPress firmly on the wound with the cleanest cloth available and do not lift it to check. If bleeding is heavy, spurting, or has not slowed after 10 minutes of continuous firm pressure, call 911. The 2024 AHA/Red Cross first aid guidelines recommend direct pressure followed by tourniquet or wound packing for life-threatening bleeding from a limb. Do not remove an embedded object.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyCan Young Children Have Suicidal Thoughts?Yes, young children can have suicidal thoughts, and they should be taken seriously rather than brushed off. At this age the words can reflect distress, sadness, or anxiety. Stay calm, ask gently and directly, keep your child safe, and reach out to a professional today. Call or text 988 any time to talk it through, or call 911 if your child is in immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyChest Pain and Left Arm Numbness: Call 911 NowChest pain with left arm numbness or tingling is a recognized warning sign of a heart attack — call 911 immediately. Do not drive yourself or wait to see if it passes. While waiting, unlock your door and chew an aspirin if available and you are not allergic; getting help comes first.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyChild Swallowed Something? Call Poison Control Now.Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 — free, confidential, and available 24/7 in the United States. Call 911 first if your child is unconscious, not breathing, seizing, or has collapsed. Button batteries are always an ER emergency regardless of symptoms. Do not make your child vomit unless Poison Control tells you to.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyChild's Asthma Attack Not Responding to the Inhaler: Act NowCall 911 immediately if a child's asthma attack does not improve after using a rescue inhaler such as albuterol — this is a medical emergency. While waiting, sit the child upright, leaning slightly forward with hands on knees, keep them calm, loosen tight clothing, and do not leave them alone.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyCrisis Hotlines and Text Lines for TeensYes — there is free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support for teens. Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, to reach a trained counselor, or text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line if texting feels easier. You don't have to be suicidal, or in danger, to reach out. If you're in immediate danger, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyCrisis Lines for Parents Worried About Their ChildYes — you can call a crisis line about your own child, even when your child isn't on the phone. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 by call, text, or chat, and it supports worried parents and caregivers. A trained counselor can help you understand what you're seeing and plan the safest next step. Call 911 if your child is in immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyCrisis Stabilization Units: An Alternative to the ERA crisis stabilization unit (CSU) is a short-stay mental health program that offers a calmer, more home-like alternative to a busy emergency room during an acute crisis. Staff assess safety, provide support, and help plan next steps — usually over hours to a few days. To find one, call or text 988. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyDiabetic Emergency: Low Blood Sugar and Passing OutIf a person with diabetes is unconscious or cannot be woken, call 911 immediately and do not put anything in their mouth — they can choke. If a glucagon kit is available, use it right away while calling 911. Severe hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose episode requiring the assistance of another person [1] and is a medical emergency once someone cannot help themselves.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyFeeling Hopeless Right Now: Immediate Help and Crisis SupportIf you feel hopeless and like life isn't worth living, reach out right now: call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (the Crisis Text Line). If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You are not alone, and these feelings can ease with help.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyFeeling Like a Burden: You Deserve Support Right NowFeeling like a burden is one of the most common things people in deep pain feel, and it's the pain talking, not the truth about your worth. You deserve support right now, and you don't have to get through tonight alone. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or text HOME to 741741 — free, confidential, and available 24/7.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyHead Injury: Warning Signs That Mean Go to the ER NowGo to the ER after a head injury if the person is unconscious, confused, vomiting repeatedly, having a seizure, has unequal pupils, or cannot walk or speak normally. People taking blood thinners and adults over 65 need emergency evaluation even after a minor blow. A CT scan is the standard test to detect bleeding the symptoms alone cannot rule out.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyHigh Fever, Stiff Neck, and Rash in a Child: Go to the ER NowA child with a high fever, stiff or painful neck, and a rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass needs emergency care immediately. Call 911 or go to the ER — this combination can signal bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease, which can become fatal within hours without treatment.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyHow Psychiatric Hospitalization Works for a Teen in CrisisTeen psychiatric admission almost always starts with a safety evaluation — in an ER or through a 988 mobile crisis team — not a direct call to a hospital. If your teen is in immediate danger now, call or text 988, or call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyHow to Report a Suicidal Post on Social MediaTo report a suicidal post, use the in-app report option — Instagram and Snapchat both have a self-harm category that routes the post to a safety team. Reporting is anonymous. Tell a trusted adult too, and call or text 988, or 911, if anyone may be in immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyHow to Text a Crisis Counselor (Text HOME to 741741)To text the crisis line, text HOME to 741741, or text 988, to reach a trained crisis counselor for free, any time. A real person texts you back and helps you through the moment — you don't need to explain everything or have the right words to start. It's confidential, and you can begin whenever you're ready.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyInvoluntary Psychiatric Holds for Minors ExplainedAn involuntary psychiatric hold is a brief, supervised period of safety-focused care a clinician can order for a minor who is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others. The exact rules, names, and time limits vary by state. In a crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyKeeping a Suicidal Teen Safe Through the NightTo keep a suicidal teen safe overnight, stay physically close, remove access to dangerous items (medications, firearms, sharp objects, car keys), and connect to trained help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7 by call or text. If your teen is in immediate danger, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyMaking Your Home Safer When a Child Is at RiskTo make your home safer for a child at risk of suicide, reduce their access to firearms, medications, and other dangerous items — locking or removing them is one of the most effective ways to prevent harm during a crisis. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room; for 24/7 support, call or text 988.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyMobile Crisis Teams: What They Are and How to Reach OneA mobile crisis team brings trained mental-health responders to you during a crisis — at home, school, or wherever it's happening — to de-escalate, assess safety, and connect your family to follow-up care, often without police. The most reliable way to reach one is to call or text 988. If your teen is in immediate danger, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyNosebleed That Won't Stop: How to Control It and When to Go to the ERTo stop a nosebleed, pinch the soft part of the nose just below the bony bridge, lean slightly forward, and hold steady pressure for 10 to 15 minutes without releasing. Do not tilt your head back. If bleeding continues after 20 to 30 minutes of correct pressure, go to urgent care or the ER.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyOpioid Overdose: How to Recognize It and Use Naloxone (Narcan) NowThe three warning signs of opioid overdose: the person will not wake up, their breathing is very slow or stopped, and their lips or fingertips are turning blue. Call 911 immediately, then give naloxone (Narcan) if available — it is safe, works within minutes, and can save a life.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyPanic and Frightening Thoughts Right Now: Get HelpPanic peaks and passes. If frightening thoughts about dying come with it, slow your breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6), ground yourself by naming what you can see, and call or text 988 to talk with a trained counselor right now. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyPanic Attack or Heart Attack? When in Doubt, Call 911.You cannot reliably tell a panic attack from a heart attack on your own — the symptoms overlap too much. If you have chest pain, a racing heart, shortness of breath, or a sense of doom and are unsure why, call 911. An ECG and a blood test can tell the difference within minutes.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyPoison Control: Call 1-800-222-1222 Right NowThe U.S. Poison Control number is 1-800-222-1222 — free, confidential, and answered 24/7 by trained specialists. Call it for any suspected poisoning, overdose, or accidental exposure to medications, household chemicals, or plants, even if you are unsure whether it is serious. Call 911 first if the person is unconscious, not breathing normally, seizing, or cannot be woken.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyPossible Overdose: Act Right NowIf someone may have overdosed and is unconscious, not breathing, seizing, or turning blue, call 911 immediately. If they are awake and alert, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, and do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional tells you to.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyReaching a Crisis Counselor Right Now: Text, Call, and Chat OptionsText HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor by text — free, confidential, and available 24/7. You can also call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; calling connects you within seconds. You do not have to be suicidal to use either service. In immediate danger, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySevere Lower-Right Abdominal Pain: Is This an Emergency?Sudden, severe pain in the lower right abdomen is an emergency until proven otherwise — go to the ER without waiting to see if it improves. Appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, and ovarian torsion all cause pain in this area and can become life-threatening. Call 911 if you faint, cannot move, or are pregnant.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySigns of a Stroke: Act FAST — This Is a Medical EmergencySudden face drooping, arm weakness, and slurred speech are the classic FAST warning signs of a stroke. Call 911 immediately — do not drive or wait to see if symptoms improve. Note the exact time symptoms started, because roughly 1.9 million brain cells are lost every minute a stroke goes untreated.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySomeone Is Choking: Heimlich Maneuver Steps Right NowIf a choking person cannot speak, cough forcefully, or breathe, their airway is completely blocked. Call 911 and alternate 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with 5 upward abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver) until the object comes out. If the person loses consciousness, begin CPR. Infants under 1 need a different technique — back blows and chest thrusts, not abdominal thrusts.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySomeone Is Having a Seizure: What to Do Right NowStay with the person, clear away hard or sharp objects, gently cushion their head, and time the seizure. Never hold them down or put anything in their mouth — the tongue-swallowing idea is a myth. Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, they don't regain consciousness, a second seizure follows, or it is their first known seizure.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySomeone Is Suicidal Right Now: How to HelpIf someone has attempted suicide or is in immediate danger, call 911 right away. If they are expressing suicidal thoughts but not in immediate danger, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Stay with the person if it is safe to do so, ask directly about suicide (it does not increase risk), and reduce access to lethal means if you safely can.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySudden Confusion and Slurred Speech in an Older Adult: Act FASTSudden confusion or slurred speech in an older adult is a stroke until proven otherwise — call 911 right away rather than driving. Brain cells die rapidly during a stroke, and the treatments that limit damage have narrow time windows. Paramedics can begin stroke protocol before reaching the hospital.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencySudden Worst Headache of Your Life: This Is an EmergencyA headache that reaches maximum intensity within 60 seconds — often called a thunderclap headache — is a medical emergency until a clinician rules otherwise. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately; do not drive yourself or wait to see if it passes. Causes can include bleeding around the brain from a ruptured aneurysm.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyThe Trevor Project: Crisis Support for LGBTQ YouthYes — The Trevor Project gives LGBTQ young people free, confidential, 24/7 crisis support by phone, text, and chat. You do not have to be in a life-threatening emergency to reach out; any level of distress is reason enough. You can also call or text 988, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, anytime.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyThink You're Having a Heart Attack? Do This Right Now.If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately — do not drive yourself and do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Heart disease causes more than 683,000 deaths in the US each year. While waiting for the ambulance, sit or lie down, stay as still and calm as possible, and unlock your front door so paramedics can get in.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyThroat Swelling and Trouble Breathing After Allergy: Call 911 NowThroat or tongue swelling, trouble breathing, or a feeling that the airway is closing after allergen exposure is anaphylaxis until proven otherwise — call 911 now. If an epinephrine auto-injector is available, inject it immediately into the outer thigh, through clothing if needed. Epinephrine does not replace emergency care.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyTrouble Breathing: When to Call 911 and What It Could MeanSudden, severe difficulty breathing — especially at rest with no clear cause — warrants calling 911 or going to the ER now. Treat it as an emergency if it comes with chest pain, blue lips, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat, or if a rescue inhaler hasn't helped after two uses. Don't drive yourself.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhat Actually Happens When You Call 988Call 988 and a trained crisis counselor answers — they listen without judgment, help you feel calmer, and plan next steps with you. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7 by call, text, or chat. Most calls are resolved on the phone, and emergency services are involved only when someone's life is in immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhat the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Is and How It Works988 is the free, confidential Suicide and Crisis Lifeline you can call, text, or chat 24/7 for any emotional crisis — not only when you feel suicidal. It connects you to a trained counselor at one of more than 200 local crisis centers, with dedicated options for Veterans, Spanish speakers, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing callers.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhat to Say to a Suicidal Teen That Actually HelpsStay calm, listen, and ask your teen directly — asking about suicide does not increase risk or plant the idea. Lead with love, reflect back what you hear, and connect them to help. If they are in immediate danger now, call 911 or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen a Child Threatens Self-Harm: Take It Seriously, Then RespondTreat every self-harm threat as real, even if it seems tied to getting their way — you cannot reliably tell leverage from genuine distress in the moment. Stay calm, keep your child safe, and call or text 988 for support. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen a Teen Talks About Not Wanting to Be Here: Get Help NowTake it seriously and stay calm and close with your teen. Ask directly and gently whether they are thinking about suicide, remove access to means like firearms and medications, and call or text 988 now for free 24/7 help. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen a Teen's Hopelessness Becomes a Mental Health EmergencyIf your teen is hopeless and withdrawn and talking about death, dying, or wanting to disappear, or you sense immediate danger, treat it as an emergency and get help now: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741, or call 911 if there is immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen Bullying Leads to Thoughts of Not Wanting to LiveIf a bullied teen is talking about not wanting to live, take it seriously: ask directly and calmly, stay close with them, remove access to means, and call or text 988 for free 24/7 help. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen Everything Feels Hopeless: You Are Not Alone, and Help Is HereIf you feel like you cannot go on, call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — to reach a trained counselor free, 24/7. If you have already hurt yourself or are in immediate danger, call 911. Hopelessness is a treatable symptom, not a permanent truth.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen Suicidal Thoughts Scare You: Help Right NowIf suicidal thoughts scare you, you're not alone and reaching out is a strong, smart move. Call or text 988 right now — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. If you feel you might act on the thoughts or you're in immediate danger, call 911. These crises are often temporary, and help is here this moment.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWhen to Take Your Child to the ER for a Mental Health CrisisGo to the ER or call 911 if your child has harmed themselves, has a suicide plan or the means, or can't be kept safe at home. If you are unsure, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — trained counselors are free, 24/7, and can help you decide whether the ER is needed tonight.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyWill Police Show Up If I Call a Crisis Line?When you contact 988, a trained crisis counselor answers — not the police. Calls are free, confidential, and available 24/7, and emergency dispatch is used only rarely, as a last resort when a counselor believes there is imminent danger to life. You do not have to give your name.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYou Can Talk to Someone Right Now — Call or Text 988Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential, and answered by trained counselors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You do not have to be in immediate danger to call. If someone has already been hurt, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYou Do Not Have to Face This Alone — Crisis Support Is Here Right NowIf you are having thoughts of not wanting to be alive, call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential, and available any hour. If you prefer texting, send HOME to 741741. If you have already hurt yourself or are in immediate danger, call 911 now.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYou Don't Want to Be Here Anymore: Reach Someone Right NowYou don't have to face this alone. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741741, to reach a trained counselor right now — free, confidential, any time of day or night. You don't need the right words to start. If you might act on these thoughts, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYou Found a Goodbye Note From Your Teen: What to Do Right NowA goodbye note from your teenager is an emergency — act now. Go to them and do not leave them alone. Ask directly whether they are thinking about suicide; asking does not plant the idea. Remove firearms and medications, then call or text 988, or call 911 if there is immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYou Just Found Out Your Child Has Been Cutting: First StepsIf your child has been cutting, respond with calm and care, not punishment. Self-injury is often a way of coping with overwhelming feelings and is not always a suicide attempt, but it signals real distress. Make sure they're physically okay, reach out to a behavioral-health clinician, and call or text 988 if you're worried about their safety.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYou Reached Out — That Matters. Help Is Here Right Now.If you feel like hurting yourself, call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential, and answered by trained people 24 hours a day. You do not need to be about to act; the urge alone is reason enough to call. If you have already hurt yourself, call 911.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Friend Is Talking About Suicide: How to Help NowAsk your friend directly if they're thinking about suicide — asking won't make things worse. Stay with them, listen without judgment, help them stay away from anything dangerous, and connect them to help: 988 and a trusted adult. You don't have to keep this a secret or carry it alone.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Partner Overdosed and Is Unconscious: Act Right NowIf your partner is unconscious after an overdose, call 911 immediately and give your address. Roll them onto their side so they cannot choke on vomit. If opioids may be involved and you have naloxone (Narcan), give it now — naloxone cannot make an opioid overdose worse. Stay with them until help arrives.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Teen Has a Plan to Hurt Themselves: Get Help NowA specific plan to hurt themselves is a medical emergency. Do not leave your teen alone. Stay calm, call or text 988, and remove access to medications, firearms, and other dangerous items right now. Asking directly about suicide does not increase risk — it can open the door to help. Go to the nearest emergency department if there is immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Teen Ran Away and May Be at Risk: What to Do NowIf your teen ran away and may be at risk of self-harm, treat it as an emergency. Call 911 to report them missing and share your safety concern, and call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis guidance. You can also reach the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY. There is no waiting period to report a missing minor.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Teen Said They Don't Want to Be Alive: What to Do Right NowIf your teen said they don't want to be alive, take it seriously and stay with them. Stay calm, stay close, and don't leave them alone. Ask directly about suicide, remove access to anything dangerous, and call or text 988 together. Call 911 if there is immediate danger. Asking does not put the idea in their head.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Teen Took Pills: Call Poison Control and 911 NowIf your teen swallowed pills, act now and do not wait for symptoms. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 — free, confidential, and staffed 24/7 by experts who tell you exactly what to do. Call 911 if your teen is unconscious, struggling to breathe, seizing, or you cannot wake them. Do not induce vomiting unless an expert says to.Urgent & emergency | emergency Urgent & emergencyYour Young Child Said They Wish They Were Dead: What to DoIf your young child said they wish they were dead, take it seriously and stay calm. The words can mean many things, and you usually can't tell which from them alone. Ask your child gently what they meant, keep dangerous items out of reach, stay close, and reach out today — call or text 988 any time, or 911 if there's immediate danger.Urgent & emergency | emergency