Emergency note
For severe, worsening, unusual, or concerning symptoms, seek professional care or call emergency services.
1. Get safe
Move away from traffic, fire, unstable surfaces, aggressive people, animals, chemicals, electricity, or other danger if you can do so safely. Do not move someone with possible head, neck, back, or serious injury unless the scene is unsafe.
2. Write down what happened
- Date, time, and location
- What happened before, during, and after the accident
- What body parts were hit, twisted, strained, burned, bitten, or injured
- Whether anyone hit their head, blacked out, felt dazed, or cannot remember part of the incident
- Names and contact information for witnesses or people involved
3. Get checked when symptoms are concerning
Consider medical evaluation for head impact, neck or back pain, significant pain, worsening symptoms, dizziness, numbness, weakness, pregnancy, child injury, older adult injury, blood thinner use, or if you are unsure whether the injury is serious.
4. Ask before leaving medical care
- What symptoms mean I should seek urgent care?
- What follow-up do I need?
- Should I avoid work, school, driving, lifting, sports, screens, exercise, or certain activities?
- Can I have written discharge instructions?
- Can I have work or school restrictions in writing, if needed?
- How do I get a copy of today’s visit summary and test results?
5. Track delayed symptoms
Watch for headache, neck pain, back pain, dizziness, nausea, sleep changes, mood changes, numbness or tingling, weakness, swelling, bruising, limited movement, or pain that appears after adrenaline wears off.
6. Save records and costs
Keep visit summaries, discharge instructions, imaging reports, prescriptions, work or school notes, photos, receipts, mileage, copays, repair bills, claim numbers, and notes from every phone call.