Medical Emergencies & First Aid

We cover this in our About Us section. The short answer: a lot of medical calls need more hands than a two-person ambulance crew, our trucks carry oxygen, an AED and the tools for a crash, and somebody has to make the scene safe while the medics work.

When in doubt, call 911. That's the safest rule. Dispatchers are trained to help you assess the situation.

Call 911 when:

• Someone is unconscious, unresponsive, or having difficulty breathing
• You suspect a heart attack, stroke, or severe allergic reaction
• There's heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
• Someone has a serious injury (broken bones, falls from height, head injuries)
• Someone is having a seizure
• A child or infant is in medical distress
• The person's condition could worsen during the drive

Why 911 matters beyond transportation:

• The crew starts treating them on the way. An ambulance is a moving emergency room, not a taxi
• An ambulance crew can give medications, start an IV, and do things that are impossible in a car
• The hospital is told in advance, so the right team is ready when you arrive
• If the person gets worse on the way, the crew can act right there

Driving someone to the ER yourself means no one is providing care during the trip, and if the patient's condition worsens, the driver is now managing a medical emergency while operating a vehicle. If there's any question about severity, call 911.

Yes. CPR training is one of the most valuable things you can do for your family and community. Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and what is done in the first few minutes, before help arrives, dramatically affects survival.

You don't need a medical background. CPR courses are designed for everyday people and typically take just a few hours.

Where to get trained:

• American Heart Association (AHA). Offers Heartsaver CPR/AED courses for the general public. Find classes at cpr.heart.org
• American Red Cross. Offers CPR, First Aid, and AED certification courses, including online/blended options. Find classes at redcross.org/take-a-class
• Local fire departments and community organizations often host CPR classes or can point you to upcoming courses in the area.

Good Samaritan laws in Pennsylvania protect people who provide emergency assistance in good faith. You shouldn't hesitate to help someone in cardiac arrest because you're afraid of legal consequences.

Consider getting your whole family trained, including teenagers. You're most likely to need CPR skills at home, with someone you love.

An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is a portable device that can analyze a person's heart rhythm and deliver an electrical shock to restore a normal heartbeat during sudden cardiac arrest.

Key facts:

• AEDs are designed for use by anyone. You don't need medical training. The device provides voice prompts that walk you through every step.
• An AED will not shock someone who doesn't need it. The device analyzes the heart rhythm and only delivers a shock if it detects a life-threatening arrhythmia.
• AEDs are found in many public places: schools, gyms, airports, community centers, churches, and office buildings. Look for the heart-with-lightning-bolt sign.

If someone collapses and isn't breathing:

1. Call 911 and stay on the line
2. If an AED is nearby, send someone for it
3. Turn it on and follow its voice prompts

We strongly recommend taking a CPR/AED course through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Hands-on practice builds confidence so you can act quickly in a real emergency. The course typically takes just a few hours and covers both CPR and AED use together.

Call 911 immediately if you suspect a heart attack. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. Time is critical. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

According to the American Heart Association, warning signs may include:

• Chest discomfort. Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. One or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath. With or without chest discomfort
• Other signs. Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, feeling unusually tired, feeling lightheaded

Important: Chest pain or discomfort is still the most common heart attack symptom in women, the same as in men. What differs is that women more often get symptoms alongside it, or instead of it, that people don't associate with a heart attack: anxiety, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, an upset stomach, pain in the shoulder, back or arm, and unusual tiredness or weakness.

Not all heart attacks are dramatic. Some start slowly with mild discomfort. People often wait too long because they think it's indigestion, anxiety, or they don't want to "bother" anyone. If something feels wrong, call 911. EMS can evaluate you and begin treatment in the ambulance, treatment that can limit heart damage and save your life.

This information is for general awareness only. It's not medical advice. Call 911 for any medical emergency.

Call 911 immediately if you suspect a stroke. Stroke treatment is extremely time-sensitive. Every minute without treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage. The phrase "time is brain" exists for a reason.

The American Stroke Association uses the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T. to help recognize the warning signs:

• B for Balance. Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• E for Eyes. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• F for Face drooping. One side of the face droops or feels numb. Ask the person to smile. Is it uneven?
• A for Arm weakness. One arm is weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
• S for Speech difficulty. Speech is slurred or hard to understand. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
• T for Time to call 911. If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately. Note the time the symptoms first appeared. This information is critical for treatment decisions.

Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Do not drive the person to the hospital yourself. Call 911 so treatment can begin in the ambulance and the right hospital (one with stroke capabilities) can be selected.

This information is for general awareness, based on the American Stroke Association guidance quoted on our sources page. It's not medical advice. Call 911 for any medical emergency.

If someone can't breathe, cough, or speak, call 911 immediately.

Choking is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate action. The techniques for helping a choking person, including abdominal thrusts and back blows, are best learned through hands-on training, not by reading instructions during an emergency.

We strongly recommend taking a first aid course that covers choking response for adults, children, and infants. Techniques differ by age group, and practicing on a training mannequin builds the muscle memory you need to act quickly under pressure.

Where to get trained:

• American Red Cross. First Aid courses cover choking response.
• American Heart Association. Heartsaver First Aid courses.

If you're with someone who is choking and you don't know what to do, call 911 immediately. The dispatcher can provide instructions over the phone while help is on the way.

This information is for general awareness only. It's not medical advice. Call 911 for any medical emergency.

Stay on the line with 911. The dispatcher may give you specific instructions based on the situation. Follow them. They're trained to guide you through exactly this scenario.

General things you can do while waiting:

• Stay with the person. Don't leave them alone. Your presence matters, even if you're not providing medical care.
• Keep them calm and comfortable. Talk to them. Reassure them that help is on the way.
• Don't move them unless they're in immediate danger (fire, traffic, structural collapse) or the dispatcher tells you to.
• Unlock the front door and turn on exterior lights. Help responders find and access your home quickly.
• Secure pets. Put dogs in another room or in the yard. Stressed pets can interfere with or delay emergency care.
• Send someone outside to flag down the ambulance if possible, especially at night or if your address is hard to find.
• Gather their medications. If you have time and it's safe, collect the patient's prescription bottles. This information helps paramedics and the ER team.

Follow the dispatcher's instructions. If they tell you to do something specific, do it. If they tell you not to do something, don't. They have protocols for a reason.

This information is for general awareness only. It's not medical advice. Call 911 for any medical emergency.