First Aid & Emergencies

Have you used an epinephrine shot to treat an allergic reaction?

Have you been accidentally stuck with an epinephrine shot?

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.

Have you been bitten by a black widow spider?

Have you been bitten by a brown recluse spider?

Have you been stung by a scorpion?

Have you had contact with a puss caterpillar (woolly slug)?

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 mild difficulty breathing or wheezing?

Do you have long-term (chronic) mild breathing problems that have gradually gotten worse?

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.

Is most of your body covered in hives that came on suddenly or over the past 3 hours?

Do you have hives that come and go but are still occurring after 24 hours of home treatment?

Do you have persistent hives that have not gone away after 24 hours of home treatment?

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.

Have you had severe pain, burning, or numbness for longer than a few minutes?

Do you have moderate pain, burning, or numbness not relieved by home treatment?

Do you still have mild pain, burning, or numbness after using home treatment for 24 hours?

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 know or think you have a fever?

Do you have shaking chills?

Do you have a decreased level of activity or a vague feeling of illness (malaise)?

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?

Do you have new joint pain or muscle stiffness?

Do you have many new tiny, flat purple or red spots (petechiae) without 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 have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?

Do you have a headache or lightheadedness or think you may faint?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Do you have shaking chills?

Are you drowsy (very sleepy, hard to wake up, or less alert)?

Is your blood pressure higher than normal?

Do you have muscle spasms or stiffness without 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 know or think you have a fever?

Do you have shaking chills?

Do you have a decreased level of activity or a vague feeling of illness (malaise)?

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?

Do you have new joint pain or muscle stiffness?

Have you had a blister, painful sore, or purple discoloration at the site of a bite or sting for 24 hours, but you do not have any other symptoms of illness?

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 swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, eyelids, or ears (but no trouble breathing), and the swelling is not where you were bitten or stung?

Do you have sudden swelling that is rapidly increasing, such as swelling across 2 large joints (for example, from the elbow to the shoulder)?

Do you have swelling that has gradually increased across 2 large joints, such as from the elbow to the shoulder?

Do you have swelling of the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet, and that is not where you were bitten or stung?

Do you have moderate swelling (an area about the size of your palm) that has not begun to improve after 24 hours of home treatment?

Is your eyelid still swollen completely shut 24 hours or longer after being bitten or stung near the eye?

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 drowsy (very sleepy, hard to wake up, or less alert)?

Do you have swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, eyelids, or ears (but no trouble breathing), and the swelling is not where you were bitten or stung?

Do you have sudden swelling that is rapidly increasing, such as swelling across 2 large joints (for example, from the elbow to the shoulder)?

Do you feel lightheaded or think you may faint?

Do you have muscle spasms?

Do you have a headache?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Do you have nausea, vomiting, or belly pain?

Do you have diarrhea?

Has your baby (younger than 1 year old) had 2 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

Has your child between the ages of 1 and 10 years had 5 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

Has an adult or a child older than 10 years had 10 or more bites or stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, or fire ants?

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.

Have 2 or more of the following flu-like symptoms begun within a few minutes to a few hours after a bite or sting?FeverShaking chillsVomitingMuscle cramps or spasmsJoint achesHeadacheSwollen glandsA vague feeling of illness (malaise)Rash

Have 2 or more of the following flu-like symptoms begun within 3 weeks of a bite or sting?FeverShaking chillsMuscle cramps or spasmsJoint achesHeadacheSwollen glandsA vague feeling of illness (malaise)Rash

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 medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have red streaks extending from a bite or sting?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around a bite or sting?

Do you have pus in or around a bite or sting?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a bite or sting for 24 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit, or groin 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.

Are you worried that the bite area has gotten dirty or has germs on it and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it.

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

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.