First Aid & Emergencies

Have you swallowed a button disc battery?Do not try to cause vomiting.Do not eat or drink anything until you have talked with your doctor.If you are unable to reach your doctor immediately, go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department. Medical treatment is usually needed within 1 hour of swallowing a battery.

Have you swallowed one or more magnets?

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 having mild breathing problems or noisy breathing?

Are you coughing or wheezing?

Have you coughed up any blood after a choking episode?

Has wheezing, noisy breathing, or coughing developed within a few days of a choking episode?

Have you coughed up blood-streaked sputum after a choking episode?

Have you been gagging or had trouble swallowing after a choking episode?

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 moderate to severe pain in your throat, chest, or belly after swallowing or inhaling an object?

Have you had mild pain in your throat, chest, or belly for 1 hour or longer after swallowing or inhaling an object?

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 swallowed a sharp object, such as an open safety pin, a straight pin, bone, toothpick, needle, razor blade, or broken thermometer?

Have you swallowed a long object? A long object is: or longer for adults and older children. or longer for babies and small children.

Have you swallowed a large object that has not passed in your stool within 7 days? A large object is: in diameter or larger in adults or older children. in diameter or larger in babies and small children.

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 vomited a moderate to large amount of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds?

Are you drooling and unable to swallow?

Have you vomited more than once after swallowing an object?

Are you having trouble swallowing after swallowing an object?

Have you been gagging after swallowing an object?

Do you still feel like something is stuck in your throat or esophagus after swallowing an object, and the feeling has not gone away after 30 to 60 minutes of home treatment?

Have you swallowed a pill that feels like it got stuck, and the feeling has not gone away after 30 to 60 minutes of home treatment?

After swallowing an object, has your child refused to eat solid food, but he or she does not have other symptoms?

After swallowing an object, has your baby started to drool more than usual, but he or she is still eating and drinking normally?

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 a bowel movement that is mostly blood?

Have you had 2 or more bowel movements where less than half of the stool is blood?

Have you had 2 or more tarry bowel movements?

Have you had 1 tarry bowel movement?

Have you had 1 bowel movement where less than half of the stool looks bloody?

Do you have bleeding from the rectum that is turning the toilet water red?

Have you had new diarrhea or constipation for 3 days 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.

Have you been unable to find a swallowed object in your stool within 7 days of swallowing the object, but you do not have 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.

Were back blows or the Heimlich maneuver used to dislodge the food or object, but you do not have any symptoms now?Note: If you do not have any symptoms now, a visit to your doctor may not be needed. Let your doctor know that back blows or the Heimlich maneuver was used to dislodge food or an object.

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.