When every second counts – how to be emergency ready in times of health crises

The Hindu

27-05-2025

Medical emergencies don't announce themselves. They arrive without warning. It could be a sudden, unbearable pain in the chest, slurring of speech in the middle of a conversation, a child going into convulsions, acute abdominal pain, a fall or an accident. The first moments in an emergency are critical, and any hesitation or delay in treatment increases the risk to life.
Emergency Medicine Day, observed every year on May 27, is an acknowledgment of the dedication and expertise of emergency medicine specialists who provide life-saving care in time.
Emergencies are unpredictable
At the same time, there is a need to equip ourselves with knowledge so that we are better prepared to recognise an emergency when it happens and take immediate action. First aid and life support training, offered by Apollo to schools, colleges, police personnel, metro employees and many other groups, empower citizens to act swiftly. When every second counts, being prepared can save lives.
Consider the story of Kumar, a 48-year-old father of two. As he was getting ready for his early morning run, he felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. At first, he thought it was gas, as his stomach was empty. But the tightness intensified as he descended the stairs. He began to feel nauseous and experienced difficulty in breathing. That was when the thought of a heart attack crossed his mind. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, he took the lift back up and woke his wife.
She took one look at his face and realised the seriousness of the situation. She immediately recalled the Apollo emergency number – 1066. The ambulance arrived within 15 minutes, and after a quick assessment, the paramedics moved the patient to the ambulance. An electrocardiogram was performed and sent to the hospital even as the ambulance was en route. This 'pre-alert' shaved crucial minutes off the golden hour, tipping the balance between full recovery and permanent disability.
Based on the ECG and other transmitted data, the hospital's medical team was ready to treat the patient on arrival, with the cath lab already prepped. In less than 45 minutes from the phone call, tests had been completed and the blockage in one of the main arteries supplying blood to the heart had been relieved through a procedure called angioplasty (primary PCI). The emergency response protocol ensured that his condition was stabilised in a timeframe that met and exceeded the international benchmark for golden hour management.
Recognising the warning signs
Heart attacks often present with symptoms beyond chest discomfort. Cold sweat, breathlessness, or a heaviness radiating down the arm or into the jaw are red flags. Strokes, too, demand urgent action. Sudden weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, abrupt confusion or blurred vision should trigger a 'FAST' response: check the face – is one side drooping, test the arm – is there weakness, and listen to speech – is there slurring or difficulty? Time is of the essence; call for help immediately so that treatment can commence at the earliest.
Awareness of symptoms must be matched by awareness of where to go in an emergency. An 'emergency-ready' hospital should offer advanced life support ambulances staffed with trained paramedics who can stabilise patients en route, and round-the-clock teams of physicians and nurses trained in emergency medicine who can handle life-threatening conditions. On-site diagnostics such as CT or MRI are vital to identify stroke types, and cath labs must be available to relieve coronary blockages or perform mechanical clot removal where applicable. Equally important is rapid access to specialists—cardiologists, critical care specialists , infectious disease specialists , neurologists and trauma surgeons—who can treat the patient without delay.
An ideal emergency department must adhere to international triage protocols to ensure that the most critical patients are attended to first. Staff should receive ongoing training in ACLS, ATLS and paediatric life support, with regular drills until each action becomes instinctive. From door-to-balloon time in heart attacks to door-to-CT in strokes, every interval should be measured and benchmarked against global standards, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Innovation and technology with empathy
Within the emergency room, efficiency must be matched with empathy. It is a time of high stress for patients and their families. Clinical teams must be patient as they explain each step to anxious relatives, offering reassurance through gentle words while providing expert care.
Technology is transforming emergency medicine. Telemedicine allows community health centres to connect with urban specialists, guiding treatment through video links. Smart ambulances, enabled by 5G, are redefining emergency care by transmitting real-time data and monitoring patients during transit. Equipped with ventilators, defibrillators and ECG machines, these ambulances deliver life-saving care even before reaching the hospital.
A hospital's emergency department must be equipped to handle all types of emergencies. From trauma following accidents to severe allergic reactions, diabetic crises to acute appendicitis, or strokes to heart attacks, the response must be based on evidence-backed clinical pathways. Standardised protocols ensure calm and coordinated responses even in high-pressure situations.
A shared responsibility
This Emergency Medicine Day, let us all share in the responsibility. Let us identify the nearest hospital with emergency services and save the helpline number on our phones. Let us learn to recognise the early signs of medical distress so that we can seek help without delay.
You may never face an emergency yourself—but you could be the one whose prompt action saves a loved one, or even a stranger. Let us resolve to stay aware and be prepared, because in an emergency, the golden hour can mean the difference between life and death. When every second counts, readiness saves lives.
(Dr. Dhavapalani Alagappan is clinical director, Emergency Departments, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. He can be reached at [e-mail] )