The Most Common Injuries Treated in the ER

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Many people try to avoid going to the hospital as much as possible. After all, nobody really enjoys a hospital visit, and depending on what kind of health insurance they may have even a routine check-up may be too expensive for some people to handle. People try to treat injuries and illnesses themselves, and for the most part that isn’t hard to do. Most homes at least have basic first aid supplies such as bandages, disinfectants and ointments, and what they don’t have can be purchased for relatively low prices from a drug store. However, there will always come a time when people will need to visit the emergency room to treat a serious injury or illness. People end up in the ER for various reasons, but these are some of the most common.

Injuries to the Foot, Hand, Wrist or Ankle

Not every injury to one’s hand or foot is cause for a trip to the emergency room, but there are still plenty of injuries that are too severe for home care. Whenever a hand, wrist, foot or ankle is hurt, there’s always the question of whether or not there is a fracture or a sprain. Since both fractures and sprains require medical care to heal properly, it’s always wise to go to the hospital to learn the extent of the damage. If there is no sprain or fracture, at least the patient will have peace of mind. If the injury is that severe, then the patient will receive the medical care that they need.

Head Injuries

A head injury can be extremely dangerous and should never be taken lightly. There is almost always a chance that one has suffered a traumatic brain injury or TBI, a condition that requires immediate medical attention. Some of the symptoms of a TBI include confusion, dizziness, memory loss, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or noise and headache. Those who experience any of these symptoms should seek medical attention from the ER immediately.

Knee Injuries

Knees can be injured in a number of ways, and while many knee injuries can be treated at home they do occasionally require a trip to the ER. If you have suffered a knee injury that causes obvious deformity, numbness below the knee, extreme pain or the inability to bear any weight, head to the ER immediately.

Laceration

Determining the severity of a cut or laceration can be difficult, and many people treat minor cuts at home with some disinfectant and a bandage. However, you should always go to the emergency room of a cut is at a joint or if it doesn’t stop bleeding after ten minutes of presure. You should also go if the laceration is from an animal bite or if it cannot be cleaned.

Traffic Accidents

Any of the above injuries can be caused by a traffic accident, so it’s important to monitor your own health closely if you were recently in a car accident. Even if you don’t experience any symptoms right away, you should still monitor yourself and whomever was in the vehicle with you in case of an accident.

Although nobody really likes going to the emergency room, it can be a lifesaver if you are seriously injured. Always know the location of the nearest emergency room, and be ready to contact emergency services if the need arises.

Source:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001927.htm

Byline

Jasper Stonewall is a freelance writer based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Jasper takes a keen interest in health, wellness, medical science, the medical profession, nursing, urgent medical care, emergency room care and other kindred topics.