First Aid & Emergencies

Does your leg look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position after a recent injury?

Do you have a bump or break in the skin at the site of a suspected broken bone or dislocation?

Did your leg pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position and then return to its normal position?

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.

Has a lot of swelling developed within 30 minutes of the injury?

Does your leg look twisted, bent, or out of its normal position?

Are you unable to move your leg normally?

Did you feel or hear a snap or pop in your injured leg, but you do not have any other changes in appearance or movement?

Since feeling or hearing a snap or pop, does your injured leg feel loose or unstable?

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.

Has your leg gradually become pale, white, blue, or cold after an injury?

Are your toes or foot pale, white, blue, or cold after having a brace, cast, or splint applied? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint.

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 new steady numbness without other symptoms after an injury?

Have you had steady tingling in your leg, without other symptoms, for 1 hour or longer?

Has tingling gotten worse?

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes 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 unable to move your injured leg?

Do you have limited leg movement with severe pain?

Are you unable to move your leg normally after having a brace, cast, or splint applied (not because the splint is in the way)? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint.

Is a young child carefully protecting his or her leg?

Is a young child unable or unwilling to walk?

Are you unable to move your leg normally or do you have decreased leg strength 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.

Do you have severe pain?

Are you unable to stand or walk?

Is a young child unable or unwilling to walk?

Do you have pain with swelling or bruising that began within 30 minutes of an injury?

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse?

Do you have mild to moderate pain that has not improved after 24 hours of home treatment?

Do you have mild pain when you move or lift your leg after 48 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.

Has swelling caused the skin below an injury to become cold or pale?

Do you have a lot of swelling within 30 minutes of an injury?

Do you have moderate swelling after 48 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.

Did someone hurt you on purpose?

Do you think that a child's injury may have been caused by abuse?

Do you think that a vulnerable adult's injury may have been caused by abuse?

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 the injured area?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the injured area?

Do you have pus in or around the injured area?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

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

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the groin for 1 week 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 (the size of the injured person's palm), painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of an injury?

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.

Call your health professional immediately.

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.

Call your health professional today.

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 may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours.

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.