When You Should Go to the ER
Not every illness or injury requires a trip to the Emergency Room. For minor illness or injury, St. Luke's is affiliated with three Urgent Care Clinics in the Cedar Rapids/Marion/Hiawatha area. For your convenience, we update our Urgent Care wait times online.
However, certain conditions require a visit to the Emergency Room. Don't hesitate
to come to the ER if you or a loved one experiences any of the
following:
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Symptoms of a heart attack, including severe chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath.
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Profuse bleeding or blood loss that continues even after direct pressure has been placed on the wound.
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Severe abdominal pain.
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Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination, balance or vision problems, which are signs of stroke.
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High fever and vomiting that continues nonstop for several hours.
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Signs of meningitis: severe headaches, neck/joint pain and stiffness, vomiting, high temperature, sensitivity to light (adults); high-pitched whimpering/crying, lethargy, fussiness, restlessness, high fever, vomiting, cold extremities, refusing food, pale or blotchy skin (babies, small children).
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Seizures lasting longer than five minutes.
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Injuries occurring from an accident or fall - intense back or neck pain, obvious compound fractures and/or dislocations of bones, deep cuts and severe burns.
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