Answer: The four categories of emergencies are:
1. Life-threatening or potentially disabling (EMERGENT). These types of
emergencies can cause death or disability within minutes, and therefore
require immediate intervention, medical care, and usually hospitalization:
• Airway and breathing difficulties
• Cardiac Arrest
• Chest pain and acute dyspnea and/or cyanosis
2. Serious, or potentially life-threatening or disabling (URGENT) These may
soon result in a life-threatening situation or may produce permanent damage,
they must be treated as soon as possible.
• Chest pain associated with URI
• Burns
• Major multiple fractures
3. Non life threatening. (NON-URGENT) These are identified as any injury
or illness that may affect the general health of a person, for example: fever,
stomachache, headache, seizures, broken bones, cuts etc. The person should
be evaluated as soon as parents can be notified or within a few hours at
maximum.
• Chronic backache
• Moderate headache
• Minor fractures or other injuries of a minor nature
4. Expectant: Injury so severe, individual is not expected to live (i.e., massive
brain trauma, severe burns).
A full resource guide to emergencies is available under "E" in our A - Z Index under "Emergency Planning and Preparedness" and is highlighted as this week's SN Tool of the Week at: http://www.schoolhealthservicesny.com/tool_kit.cfm
