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In a medical emergency, the first hour can determine whether a person recovers fully, is left with lasting disability or does not survive. Yet most people have never rehearsed what they would do. Panic sets in, family members argue about which hospital to go to, someone starts searching for a phone number, valuable minutes are lost, and sometimes well-meant home remedies make things worse. A little preparation turns confusion into action.
This guide is written for residents of Badshahpur, Sohna Road and the neighbouring sectors of Gurugram. It explains how to recognise an emergency, the steps to take in the first minutes, what to do for common emergencies while waiting for help, how to choose where to go, what to carry and how to prepare your household in advance.
What Counts as a Medical Emergency?
An emergency is any sudden illness or injury that threatens life, a limb or long-term health, and needs immediate medical attention. Examples include:
- Chest pain or pressure, suspected heart attack or cardiac arrest.
- Stroke symptoms such as facial drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty.
- Severe difficulty in breathing, choking or a severe asthma attack.
- Severe bleeding that does not stop with pressure.
- Serious injuries from road accidents, falls from height, burns or electric shock.
- Loss of consciousness, seizures or sudden confusion.
- Severe allergic reaction with swelling of the lips or throat, wheezing or collapse.
- Poisoning or overdose.
- Severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood or black stools.
- Pregnancy emergencies such as heavy bleeding, severe pain, seizures or leaking fluid with reduced movements.
- High fever with stiff neck, rash or drowsiness, and a fever in a newborn.
- Children who are very drowsy, unable to drink, breathing rapidly or have persistent vomiting and signs of dehydration.
- Suicidal thoughts or severe mental health crisis.
If you are unsure, treat it as an emergency. It is better to be reassured than to wait too long.
The First Five Minutes
- 1Stay calm and assess the scene. Make sure that you and the patient are safe from traffic, fire, electric hazards or other dangers before approaching.
- 2Check the person. Are they awake and responding? Are they breathing normally? Is there serious bleeding?
- 3Call for help at once. Dial 112 (the national emergency number) or call the hospital's emergency or ambulance line. Trustmed Hospital's emergency number is +91-8700232311. Speak clearly and give:
- Your exact location and a nearby landmark.
- What has happened and how many people are affected.
- The person's age, condition and any known illnesses.
- Your phone number, and stay on the line until told to hang up.
- 1Send someone to meet the ambulance at the main road or gate to guide it in.
- 2Begin first aid while waiting, according to the situation below.
First Aid for Common Emergencies
Unresponsive Person Who Is Not Breathing Normally (Cardiac Arrest)
- 1Shout for help and call for an ambulance. Ask someone to bring an AED if one is available.
- 2Lay the person on their back on a firm surface.
- 3Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, put the other hand on top and push hard and fast, about 5 to 6 centimetres deep at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to recoil fully.
- 4If trained, give two rescue breaths after every 30 compressions. If not, continue hands-only CPR.
- 5Use the AED as soon as it arrives, following the voice prompts.
- 6Continue until help takes over or the person starts to breathe normally.
Suspected Heart Attack
Keep the person seated and calm, loosen tight clothing and call for an ambulance. If the person is not allergic and has no bleeding problem, give a regular aspirin to chew. Do not let them walk or drive.
Suspected Stroke
Use the FAST check: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency. Note the time symptoms began, because clot-dissolving treatment is time-sensitive. Do not give food, water or medicines.
Severe Bleeding
Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean cloth or sterile dressing. Do not remove the cloth if it soaks; add more. Raise the injured limb if there is no suspected fracture. If bleeding from a limb is life-threatening and does not stop, apply a tourniquet above the wound as trained.
Choking
If an adult is unable to speak, cough or breathe, give up to five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades, followed by up to five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre). For infants, use back blows and chest thrusts, never abdominal thrusts. Call for help if the object is not dislodged.
Burns
Cool with running water for at least 20 minutes. Remove jewellery and loose clothing near the burn, unless stuck. Cover loosely with a clean non-stick dressing. Do not apply ice, butter, toothpaste or ointments. Seek emergency care for large, deep, facial, hand or genital burns.
Seizures
Move objects away to prevent injury, cushion the head, and turn the person onto their side after the seizure ends. Do not put anything in the mouth or hold the person down. Note the time. Call for help if it lasts more than five minutes, repeats, or it is the person's first seizure.
Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)
Use an adrenaline auto-injector if the person has one, lay them flat with legs raised unless they have breathing difficulty, and call for an ambulance immediately.
Poisoning
Call for help and tell the responders what was swallowed, how much and when. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed. Keep the container or packaging.
Road Accidents and Falls
Do not move the person unless there is immediate danger. Control bleeding, keep the person still and warm and avoid giving food or drink. Support the neck if you suspect spinal injury.
Choosing Where to Go
- Go to the nearest hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and appropriate facilities, especially for heart attack, stroke, serious injury and pregnancy emergencies. Distance and traffic matter.
- Prefer an ambulance for serious conditions. Paramedics can start treatment, monitor you and alert the hospital in advance.
- Do not waste time shopping around, calling relatives for advice or waiting for a "preferred" doctor. Stabilise first.
- If you are already a patient of a particular hospital, and the emergency is not severe, you may choose it, but always prioritise speed in life-threatening situations.
- Insurance questions come second. Emergency treatment will not be denied in order to complete paperwork, and your insurance can be organised while care continues.
What to Carry (if You Have a Few Moments)
- A photo ID and insurance card.
- A list of medicines, allergies and medical conditions.
- Previous reports and prescriptions, if easy to access.
- A phone and charger.
- Some cash or a payment card.
- A family member who knows the medical history.
Never delay leaving to collect documents in a life-threatening situation.
What Happens When You Arrive
A nurse or doctor will quickly assess the patient (triage) and prioritise by urgency. Life-threatening conditions are treated immediately, often before registration. You will be asked about symptoms, history and allergies. Tests such as ECG, blood tests, X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan may be done quickly. The emergency team may call specialists, arrange admission to the ICU or operation theatre, or stabilise the patient for transfer if needed. Stay available to give information and consent.
Preparing Your Household in Advance
- 1Save emergency numbers in every phone: 112, the hospital's emergency line, the ambulance service and your family doctor.
- 2Write the numbers on the refrigerator or a visible place for children and domestic staff.
- 3Keep a first aid kit with bandages, gauze, antiseptic, tape, gloves, scissors, thermometer, paracetamol, ORS and any prescribed emergency medicines.
- 4Make a health summary for each family member: conditions, allergies, medicines and blood group.
- 5Learn CPR and basic first aid. Many hospitals and training organisations run short courses. Teach older children, too.
- 6Know the route to the nearest hospital at different times of day.
- 7Keep your vehicle fuelled, and consider arranging a backup driver for emergencies.
- 8Plan for elderly relatives and children, including who looks after them if you must go to hospital.
- 9Discuss insurance and keep policy documents accessible.
- 10Review annually, and rehearse what to do with your household.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting to "see if it gets better" with chest pain, stroke symptoms or severe breathlessness.
- Driving a seriously ill person yourself through traffic without help.
- Giving food, water or home remedies to a person who is drowsy or may need surgery.
- Moving an accident victim unnecessarily.
- Applying toothpaste, ghee or turmeric on burns and wounds.
- Calling many relatives first before calling for help.
- Using unproven remedies instead of emergency treatment.
Care at Trustmed Hospital
Trustmed Hospital in Badshahpur, Gurugram, provides 24-hour emergency care with an ambulance service, ICU, NICU, operation theatres, diagnostics and an in-house pharmacy. Our insurance desk helps families with cashless processing once the patient is stable. Save our emergency number, +91-8700232311, in your phone today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Talk to a specialist at Trustmed Hospital
If anything in this article sounds familiar, an early consultation is the simplest next step.
This article is for general information only and does not replace a medical consultation. Always speak with a qualified doctor about your specific symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment.
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