First Aid & Emergencies

Have you had a nosebleed in the past 12 hours?

Have you had abnormal vaginal bleeding in the past 12 hours?

Have you had rectal bleeding in the past 12 hours?

Have you had blood in your urine in the past 12 hours?

Have your gums bled easily in the past 12 hours?

Have you had a nosebleed in the past few days?

Have you had abnormal vaginal bleeding in the past few days?

Have you had rectal bleeding in the past few days?

Have you had blood in your urine in the past few days?

Have your gums bled easily in the past few days?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does a child age 3 or younger have a bulging soft spot on his or her head when he or she is not crying?

Is a child age 3 or younger crying or having other signs of pain after 30 minutes of home treatment?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Do you have a severe stiff neck?

Are you extremely sleepy or having a hard time waking up?

Have you had a gradual increase in the number or size of bruises or blood spots over the past 72 hours, but you do not have any other symptoms?

Have you had a gradual increase in the number or size of bruises or blood spots in the past few weeks, but you do not have any other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you take a blood-thinning medicine or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and you have new bruising or bleeding?

Do you think a medicine may be causing your symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a bruise because someone hurt you?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take a medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have red streaks extending away from the bruise?

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a bruise?

Do you have discharge of pus from a bruise?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around the bruise for 24 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) near a bruise for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Did a large, painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of an injury? Note: A large bruise is the size of the injured person's palm.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you worried about how easily you bruise?

Have bruises from an injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.