Find the health problem in Section I
of the table of contents and go to that page. The
problems are listed in order from A to Z.
Read about the problem, what causes it (if
known), its symptoms, and treatments.
Scrutinize the “Questions to Ask.” Start at the
top of the flow chart and answer YES or NO to
each question.
Follow the arrows in the flowchart until you get
to one of these answers:
Get Immediate Care
You should get help immediately. If
symptoms threaten life, go to a hospital
emergency department, if you can do so quickly
and safely. If not, call 911 or your local rescue
squad. Symptoms that threaten life include:
- No breathing and/or pulse
- Unconsciousness
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe bleeding
- Head or neck injury
- Suicidal or homicidal intent
- Choking
For symptoms that don’t threaten life, immediate
care means seeing your health care provider or
going to an urgent care center right away. If your
school has a health service center, find out where
it is and when it is open. Find out where to go for
urgent care, both on and off campus. Make sure
you know phone numbers for these places and
write them on page 1.
Find out, now, how your health insurance covers
medical emergencies when you are in the state you
live in, when you are out of state, and even out of
the country. Then you’ll know what to do if
something occurs. You may need to get additional
insurance when you travel or study abroad.
See Provider
When you see the this symbol, call your health care provider and state the problem. Your provider’s office staff can evaluate your symptoms and determine how soon you need to
be seen. The term “provider” can be used for a number of health care providers. They include:
Your primary doctor, physician’s assistant (P.A.), nurse practitioner (N.P.), etc.
Doctors, registered nurses, and counselors at
your school’s Health Services or Mental Health
Services
Walk-in clinic health care providers
Call Provider
Call your health care provider and state
the problem. He or she can decide what
you should do. He or she may:
- Tell you to make an appointment to be seen
- Send you to a laboratory for tests
- Recommend treatment over the phone
- Tell you specific things to do to treat the problem
Use Self-Care
You can probably take care of the problem yourself if you answered NO to
all questions in the flowcharts. Use the self-care items that are listed,
but call your health care provider if you don’t feel better soon. You may
have some other problem.