Warning signs that can't wait for an appointment

Some symptoms need a phone call, not a chat. If any of the signs below happen to you or someone near you, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Don't wait to see if it passes.

• 911 in the US and Canada
• 999 in the UK
• 112 across the EU, and from mobile phones in many other countries

If you can, don't drive yourself. Ask someone to call for you, and follow what the call handler tells you.

Heart attack

The most common signs are:

• Chest pain, pressure or discomfort, often in the centre or left side, that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders, the jaw, neck or back
• Shortness of breath, with or even before the chest discomfort
• A cold sweat, light-headedness, weakness or feeling faint

Heart attacks don't always look like the films. Women in particular are more likely to have less obvious signs, such as unusual tiredness, nausea or vomiting. If something feels wrong, call. Getting treatment quickly can limit damage to the heart.

Stroke: think FAST

• Face: one side droops, or it's hard to smile
• Arms: they can't lift both arms and keep them up, because one is weak or numb
• Speech: slurred, confused, or they can't find words
• Time: call your emergency number right away

Other sudden signs include weakness or numbness down one side, blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion, dizziness or falling over, and a severe headache.

Stroke signs sometimes fade after a few minutes. Call anyway. Symptoms that stop are still a reason to get help now.

Breathing trouble

• Struggling to breathe, choking, or unable to speak
• Lips, tongue or skin turning blue, grey or very pale
• In a child: grunting, or the tummy sucking in under the ribs with each breath

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

This usually starts within minutes of the trigger, like a food, medicine or sting. Watch for:

• Swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth or throat
• Wheezing, fast or difficult breathing, a tight throat, trouble swallowing or a hoarse voice
• Feeling faint, dizzy, confused or drowsy
• Pale, blue or grey skin, lips or tongue
• A swollen, raised or itchy rash

Use an adrenaline auto-injector if you have one, as you were shown, then call your emergency number and say it's anaphylaxis. Lie down with your legs raised, or sit up slowly if breathing is hard. Don't stand up or walk, even if you start to feel better.

Sepsis

Sepsis can follow an infection. Get emergency help if an adult or older child:

• Is breathing very fast
• Is confused, has slurred speech or isn't making sense
• Has blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• Feels very hot or very cold, or is shivering
• Has a rash that doesn't fade when you press on it

Meningitis

Signs can include a severe headache that keeps getting worse, a stiff neck, finding bright light painful, a high temperature, very cold hands and feet, vomiting, confusion, being very sleepy or hard to wake, or a seizure.

Some people get a spotty rash. Press a clear glass against it: if the spots don't fade, get help now. On brown or black skin, check paler areas like the palms, soles or the roof of the mouth. Not everyone gets a rash, so never wait for one.

Babies and young children

Call for help if a baby or young child:

• Is floppy, unusually sleepy, hard to wake or not responding normally
• Has a weak, high-pitched or non-stop cry
• Is struggling to breathe, or has blue, grey or blotchy skin
• Has a rash that doesn't fade under a glass
• Is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C or more
• Has a seizure, or isn't feeding

Other emergencies

• Bleeding that won't stop, even with firm pressure
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Fainting, collapsing or not waking up properly
• Sudden, severe pain anywhere, including severe pain in the tummy
• A seizure in someone who hasn't had one before
• A head or spine injury, or swallowing something poisonous

Thoughts of ending your life

If you've hurt yourself, or feel you might act on these thoughts now, call your emergency number or go to an emergency department. You can ask someone to make the call for you.

If you're not in immediate danger, please still talk to someone today: a friend, your doctor, or a crisis line. In the US you can call or text 988. Elsewhere, your doctor or local health service can tell you which crisis line to use. If you're with someone who has tried to harm themselves, stay with them.

How Saluvo handles these

Saluvo's chat checks every message for warning signs like these before it writes an answer, and tells you to get emergency help when it finds one. It's a safety net, not a replacement for calling. If you're reading this while something is happening, put the phone to its proper use and make the call.