When should I go to an ER?
So how do you know if your health issue is an emergency-room emergency?
According to the WRHA, the ER is your best bet when you've got a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening condition, like severe chest pains, stroke or trauma.
The WRHA also provides a handy list of conditions that should definitely send you to the ER:
Heart attack
Stroke
Major trauma
Severe head injury
Loss of limb in an accident
Severe difficulty breathing (due to an allergic reaction or another cause)
Sexual assault
Domestic violence
Severe bleeding
Any time a person is unconscious
Emergency departments are open 24/7 on a walk-in basis, so you can go anytime.
A reminder: if you've got something going on that seems ER-worthy, you can also call 911.
When should I go to an urgent care centre?
This is the place for all those concerns that aren't life-threatening but do need to be taken care of right away.
Fracture a bone? Need stitches? Severe flu symptoms? If your regular doctor's not available, get yourself to an urgent care centre.
Here are some reasons you might go to an urgent care centre:
Fever or flu symptoms
Fractures or sprains
Minor burns
Headaches, earaches
Nosebleeds
Rashes
Sore throat
Urinary problems
Vomiting
Still not sure where to go? Call the 24-hour Health Links helpline at 204-788-8200, or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.
