Specialty6 min read

Emergency medicine

Detail level

Emergency medicine deals with acute conditions that need immediate decisions and action to prevent death or disability. If life-threatening, call your local emergency number.

According to AMA FREIDA: emergency physicians focus on "decision-making and the immediate action necessary to prevent death or any further disability" in the pre-hospital phase and in the emergency department, for adults and children. According to MedlinePlus: emergency medical services are trained people and equipped facilities that respond when a person is "very sick or badly injured and needs immediate help". MedlinePlus states that if the condition appears life-threatening, the emergency number should be called.

FREIDA states that emergency physicians treat neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, orthopaedic, obstetric, dermatological and psychiatric illnesses, are trained as experts in resuscitation, and carry out procedures from suturing wounds to tracheal intubation; conditions include heart attacks, strokes, injuries and psychiatric emergencies. Training is three to four years, and subspecialties include paediatric emergency medicine, medical toxicology, sports medicine, intensive care and emergency medical services. MedlinePlus states that emergency medical technicians (EMTs) "respond to emergency calls and provide basic medical care" and that paramedics are a specialised type who carry out medical procedures at the scene before transport. This page does not cover triage or treatment protocols.

In one minute¹²³

What is it?: The specialty of immediate care for acute conditions and injuries, in the field and the emergency department.
Who is usually affected?: Anyone with an acute condition or injury, adult or child.
Acute or chronic?: Assessment, resuscitation, stabilising the condition and initial treatment, then admission, transfer or discharge with follow-up.
Main symptoms: Emergency signs such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding and loss of consciousness (MedlinePlus).
Red flags?: Yes, see above: in a life-threatening condition call your local emergency number immediately.
Preventable?: This page does not cover prevention advice; MedlinePlus advises knowing the nearest emergency department and keeping emergency numbers at hand.

What is it?

According to FREIDA, emergency physicians focus on "decision-making and the immediate action necessary to prevent death or any further disability", in the pre-hospital phase and in the emergency department. MedlinePlus defines emergency medical services as "trained people and equipped facilities" that respond to someone who is "very sick or badly injured and needs immediate help".

Conditions it covers

According to MedlinePlus (recognising medical emergencies), warning signs in adults include: bleeding that will not stop, breathing problems, a change in mental state, chest pain or discomfort lasting 2 minutes or more, choking, coughing or vomiting blood, fainting or loss of consciousness, thoughts of suicide or homicide, head or spine injury, inability to speak, severe abdominal pain, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, sudden injuries such as car accidents, burns, smoke inhalation, near-drowning and deep wounds, sudden severe pain anywhere, sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision, swallowing a poisonous substance, and swelling of the face, eyes or tongue. It lists signs in children including blue skin, seizures and severe headache with vomiting; this page does not cover the complete list for children.

Related pages on this site: trauma, stroke, cardiology, psychiatry and orthopaedics. FREIDA lists injuries, strokes, heart attacks, psychiatric emergencies and bone diseases among what the emergency physician treats, and MedlinePlus lists heart attacks, injuries and psychiatric emergencies among its related topics. The references of this page do not name coronary artery disease ("heart attack" and "cardiac events" are mentioned).

Common tests and procedures

This page does not cover test lists or triage protocols. FREIDA states that the physician performs procedures from suturing wounds to tracheal intubation and is trained as an expert in resuscitation; MedlinePlus states that paramedics carry out medical procedures at the scene before transport.

When to see one

According to MedlinePlus (recognising medical emergencies) the local emergency number (and ambulance) is called when: the condition is life-threatening (such as a heart attack or severe allergy); or may become so during transport; or moving the person may cause further harm (such as a neck injury or car accident); or the person needs the skills or equipment of paramedics; or traffic or distance may delay arrival. It advises knowing the nearest emergency department and keeping emergency numbers at hand. Numbers differ between countries; in the UAE, the official UAE government portal (u.ae) states that 998 is for ambulance, 999 for police and 997 for civil defence, and they can be called from anywhere in the country. Elsewhere, confirm the official number in your country.

Referral to the specialist is usually decided by the primary care provider according to the condition (MedlinePlus). Life-threatening conditions, however, do not wait for a referral.

When do you need urgent help?

Call emergency services now 998

A life-threatening condition (chest pain lasting 2 minutes or more, difficulty breathing, bleeding that will not stop, loss of consciousness, sudden weakness, dizziness or change in vision, swelling of the face or tongue, swallowing poison, thoughts of harming yourself or others): call your local emergency number immediately and do not drive yourself if your condition is serious. According to MedlinePlus: stay calm and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if you are trained. This page does not cover the protocols for each condition.³²

Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.

Common questions

When should I call emergency services instead of going myself?

According to MedlinePlus: when the condition is life-threatening, or may become so during transport, or moving may cause harm (such as a neck injury), or the patient needs the skills of paramedics, or traffic or distance may delay arrival. Use the local emergency number in your country.³

Questions for your doctor

Is my condition an emergency or can it be treated at a clinic?
What is the cause of the symptoms, and what tests were done?
What are the instructions after discharge, and when should I return immediately?
Who do I follow up with after the emergency, and at what appointment?
Which medicines or instructions do I stop or start?

References

1
AMA FREIDA. Emergency medicine — specialty description. freida.ama-assn.org/specialty/emergency-medicine
Educational & historical references · Accessed 2026-10-06
2
MedlinePlus. Emergency medical services. medlineplus.gov/emergencymedicalservices.html
Health agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-06
3
MedlinePlus. Recognizing medical emergencies. medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001927.htm
Health agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-06
4
MedlinePlus. Types of health care providers. medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001933.htm
Health agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-06
5
UAE Government portal (u.ae). Handling emergencies. u.ae/en/information-and-services/justice-safety-and-the-law/handling-emergencies
Health agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-07

Review status: Edited content · Last updated: 2026-10-06

Change log

2026-10-06 — Page created.
2026-10-07 — Added the UAE emergency numbers, attributed to the official UAE Government portal u.ae.