Call 911 or seek emergency care
Do not wait for an appointment if any of these occur.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Loss of consciousness or fainting.
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking.
- Bleeding that does not stop.
- Severe pain or rapid worsening of overall condition.
- Skin turning dark, pale or bluish.
- Sudden loss of sensation or movement.
- Any situation your treating team identified as an emergency.
Contact your health professional promptly
These signs do not diagnose a condition: they indicate that a professional evaluation is advisable.
- Fever or chills.
- Redness spreading around the area.
- A significant increase in swelling.
- New or increasing drainage.
- A new or stronger odor.
- Pain that increases day after day.
- An area that is not showing the changes your team expected.
- Difficulty following the instructions you received.
When you call, have ready
- What changed and since when.
- Temperature if you have taken it.
- Medication list.
- Instructions received previously.
- Name of the caller and of the patient.
Important
- This guide does not diagnose infection or recommend treatments. It does not replace evaluation by a licensed professional.
- Do not send wound photographs or medical information through the website.