Learning to recognize a medical emergency - and knowing how to respond to it - can literally mean the difference between life and death. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of medical emergencies:

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• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath

• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure

• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision 

• Change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty waking)

• Weakness on one side or a facial droop, garbled speech

• Suicidal or homicidal feelings

• Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body

• Bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure

• Severe or persistent vomiting, coughing up blood

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Because emergency situations can cause people to panic, it's important to plan in advance. Think about how you would and should respond to different emergency situations. For example, make sure everyone in the family knows what numbers to call in an emergency. Find out if your health plan has any procedures you need to follow. Make sure the numbers for your doctor and for poison control are kept by the phone.