Cuts that don’t involve much blood but might need stitches The amount of blood visible is minimal, but there’s too much at risk to wait.

Moderate breathing difficulties If you have any doubt about your ability to breathe on your own or whether a bout of wheezing is normal, it’s

Sprains and strains If you sprain or strain a muscle, ligament, tendon or joint—even if it doesn’t hurt much—you should go to your doctor. If

Persistent eye discomfort Severe eye pain can be a sign of anything from dry eye or conjunctivitis (pinkeye) to glaucoma. Dry eye and pinkeye both

Flu, cold, sore throat, cough, fever You’re sick, but is it a trip-to-the-ER type of sick? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges

Six Reasons to Go to the Emergency Room If you are having trouble breathing, have chest pain or are experiencing a lot of swelling in

High fever in infants In infants, a high fever can be a sign of serious infection, including meningitis. Also look for signs of dehydration and

Uncontained bleeding You may have an internal injury that could get worse if you don’t seek treatment. If your head, face or neck is injured,

Serious injury to your head, neck, or back/spine If you’ve been in a serious accident and sustained an injury that affects these areas, you should

Coughing up or vomiting blood Though a common occurrence in many accidental injury scenarios, coughing up or vomiting blood is a telltale sign of internal

Serious burns or cuts If you have a serious burn or cut, head to an emergency room. For burns over 20 percent of your body

Serious bone breaks If you’ve broken a bone and it’s sticking out of your skin, don’t try to push it back in. Seek medical attention.