The ER at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is always ready to serve you in the event of any medical emergency situation. But how do you know what is – or what isn't – a real medical emergency? Let these guidelines be a good start in the process of your "emergency education."

If you or a loved-one exhibit any of these warning signs, get to the ER at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital right away:

• Fainting
• Chest or abdominal pain or pressure
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or change of vision
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Sudden, severe pain
• Bleeding that doesn't stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure
• A gaping wound with edges that don't come together
• Puncture wounds
• Glass or metal or other foreign bodies in your eye
• Animal bites
• Dazed behavior with a high fever that doesn't improve after taking aspirin or acetaminophen
• Spinal injury
• Deep burns or burns over large parts of your body
• Poisoning
• Drug overdose
• Suicidal or homicidal feelings
• Hallucinations or severe changes in behavior

REMEMBER: These are only SOME of the warning signs that identify a real medical emergency. If you have any questions whatsoever, call your doctor right away. Or get yourself to the ER at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital as quickly as possible.