Patients

Being a Patient After a Mountain Mishap or a Night Out

Most trips into the Blue Ridge and most evenings downtown end without a scratch, but sprained ankles on wet trails, heat exhaustion on a summer climb, falls on uneven sidewalks and dehydration after a long concert do send people to urgent care or the emergency department. Knowing what to expect as a patient makes those hours less stressful and helps clinicians help you faster.

Choosing where to go

For chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, a suspected head injury, signs of stroke or anyone who is unresponsive, call 911. Do not drive yourself. Urgent care clinics suit minor cuts, simple sprains, mild allergic reactions and minor illnesses. If you are unsure, a nurse advice line through your insurer or a call to 911 is better than waiting. Our first-aid awareness notes cover what to do in the minutes before help arrives.

What to bring and say

• Identification and insurance card, or at least a photo of them on your phone.
• A list of medications and allergies, including supplements. Mention any alcohol or substances taken. Clinicians need accurate information to treat you safely.
• What happened and when: where you fell, how long symptoms have lasted, whether you lost consciousness, what you last ate and drank.
• An emergency contact saved in your phone's medical ID, which first responders can see without unlocking it.

Looking after a friend

If you are with someone who is hurt or unwell, stay with them, keep track of the timeline and pass it on to responders. If a person has had too much to drink and cannot be woken, is vomiting while drowsy or breathing irregularly, treat it as an emergency. Lay them on their side and call for help.

After you are discharged

Read your discharge instructions before leaving and ask about anything unclear: activity limits, when to follow up, and which warning signs mean you should come back. Hold off on hiking, driving or drinking until you have been cleared, and arrange a ride home if you received pain medication or sedation. Rest is part of recovery, and our injury prevention page has tips for getting back on the trail safely.

This is general information only. Always follow the advice of your own doctor or the treating medical team.