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 Urgent Care and Express Clinics in the Cedar Rapids metro 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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