In a life-threatening situation, a call to 911 or a visit to an emergency room is always your best choice. For minor illnesses at times when you can’t see your own doctor, like weekends or evenings, an urgent care clinic or a trip to a standalone ER such as Grace ER can give you the care you need. Grace ER has locations in Houston and Pearland, TX.

Research the urgent care options available on your health plan. These guidelines can help you decide if you or someone else needs emergency attention:

EMERGENCY ROOM OR 911

• Chest pain with shortness of breath and/or sweating
• Difficulty breathing
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Trauma or head injury
• Sudden dizziness, difficulty seeing, slurred speech, confusion, numbness, or paralysis
• Unconsciousness
• Poisoning
• Severe injury, burns, or electrical shock
• Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy

Standalone ER/ URGENT CARE

• Sore throats, coughs, congestion, fever, and other flu or cold symptoms
• Cuts that require stitches
• Mild or moderate asthma attacks
• Earaches and eye or skin infections*
• Insect bites or rashes
• Urinary tract infections
• Sprains, strains, deep bruises
• Diarrhea*
• Pregnancy tests and physical exams

If any of these symptoms seem severe, always consider them an emergency room.