Red Flag Symptoms That Need Immediate Attention
Certain symptoms are medical emergencies or indicate serious conditions that need urgent evaluation. Learn to recognize these warning signs.
🚨 Call 911 Immediately
For life-threatening emergencies. Don't drive yourself — emergency responders can begin treatment en route.
Life-Threatening Emergencies
These symptoms require immediate emergency care. Call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
Call 911 For:
- Chest pain or pressure — especially if it spreads to arm, jaw, or back, or comes with sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing — severe shortness of breath, gasping, or feeling like you're suffocating
- Signs of stroke — sudden face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty (use FAST below)
- Severe allergic reaction — throat swelling, difficulty breathing, widespread hives, after exposure to allergen
- Severe bleeding — uncontrolled bleeding that won't stop with direct pressure
- Loss of consciousness — fainting, unresponsiveness, altered mental status
- Seizures — especially first-time seizure or seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
- Suicidal thoughts or self-harm — call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911
Recognizing a Stroke: BE FAST
Stroke requires immediate treatment. Every minute matters — brain cells die rapidly without blood flow. Use this mnemonic to recognize stroke symptoms:
🧠 BE FAST for Stroke Recognition
BBalance — Sudden loss of balance or coordination
EEyes — Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes
FFace — Ask them to smile. Does one side droop?
AArms — Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
SSpeech — Ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or strange?
TTime — If you see ANY of these signs, call 911 immediately!
Symptoms That Always Need Medical Evaluation
These "red flag" symptoms may not require 911, but warrant prompt evaluation by a healthcare provider — don't ignore them.
🩸 Blood Where It Shouldn't Be
- Coughing up blood
- Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- Blood in urine (pink, red, or cola-colored)
- Blood in stool or black, tarry stools
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
🌡️ Fever Warning Signs
- Fever over 103°F (39.4°C) in adults
- Fever lasting more than 3 days
- Fever with severe headache and stiff neck (meningitis warning)
- Fever with rash that doesn't blanch when pressed
- Fever in immunocompromised individuals
- Any fever in infants under 3 months
⚡ Sudden or Severe Onset
- "Worst headache of my life" — sudden, severe
- Sudden vision loss or double vision
- Sudden severe abdominal pain
- Sudden weakness or numbness
- Sudden confusion or difficulty speaking
- Symptoms that rapidly worsen over hours
📉 Unexplained Changes
- Unintentional weight loss (10+ lbs over 6-12 months)
- Night sweats (soaking bedsheets)
- Persistent fatigue not explained by lifestyle
- New lumps or masses that persist
- Changes in bowel or bladder habits lasting 2+ weeks
- Persistent pain that won't go away
😴 Symptoms That Wake You
- Pain that wakes you from sleep
- Shortness of breath when lying flat
- Waking up gasping for air
- Night pain in back or joints (especially if persistent)
Special Populations
Children & Infants
Red flags that warrant immediate care in children:
- Any fever in infants under 3 months old
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Blue or gray skin color
- Not waking up or not responding normally
- Refusing to eat or drink for extended periods
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea with signs of dehydration
- Rash that doesn't fade when pressed (petechiae)
- Bulging fontanelle (soft spot) in infants
Elderly Adults (65+)
Older adults may present differently — watch for:
- Sudden confusion or changes in mental status
- Falls or sudden inability to walk
- Infections without typical fever
- Heart attack without classic chest pain
- Dehydration progressing rapidly
Pregnant Women
Seek immediate care for:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe headache with vision changes (preeclampsia warning)
- Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet
- Decreased fetal movement
- Fluid leaking from vagina before 37 weeks
When in Doubt
If you're unsure whether your symptoms are serious:
- Trust your instincts — if something feels seriously wrong, it might be
- Call your doctor's office — many have nurse advice lines available 24/7
- Use telehealth — a quick video visit can help determine if you need emergency care
- Go to urgent care — for concerning but non-life-threatening symptoms
- Call 911 if in doubt — paramedics would rather evaluate you than have you wait too long
Better to seek care and learn it wasn't serious than to wait and have a poor outcome.