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The first purpose of this guide, Adult SelfCareNavigator,
is to help you determine how sick you are and if you need to call your
doctor. The second purpose is to help you treat yourself at home when
it is safe to do so.
Your doctor's advice and your good judgment should always
take precedence over information in these topics.
- Choose the Appropriate Topic. Topics are
arranged in 14 different groups by body part. You can select any of
the 61 Adult Topics from the:
Choose the topic that most closely matches your symptoms. If
you have more than one symptom, address the most serious symptom. Serious
means the symptom that potentially could cause the most harm to you.
(Example: for nosebleed and head trauma together, use the Head Trauma
guideline.) If you aren't sure which topic to use, use more than 1 topic.
Do not use the fever guideline unless fever is your only symptom. If you
also have a cough, diarrhea or other symptom, go to that topic instead
of fever. Choosing the appropriate symptom is very important because it
leads you to the best information for your illness or injury.
- Read the Definition. Go to the chosen topic
and read the Definition to be sure it's
a good fit for your problem. If not, consider related symptoms listed
under "See More Appropriate Topic".
- Read the Decision Chart Sections. Following the Definition
in each topic, there is a Decision Chart, which gives options for what
action you should take, including Call 911, Call Your Doctor Now, Call
Your Doctor in 24 Hours, and so on. Below each option is a list of symptoms/reasons
for choosing that option. Read through these bulleted items. Read from
top to bottom and don't skip any symptoms or reasons. The purpose of
these is to help you determine the seriousness of your situation.
- Follow the Suggestions in the Decision Chart.
If you have even one of the serious or other "Call Your
Doctor" symptoms, stop reading the list of reasons to call your
doctor and take the action suggested in the heading at the top of the
list. If the recommendation is to call your doctor within 24 hours or
during weekday office hours, refer to the Home Care Advice section for
self care advice until then.
- Follow Home Care Advice. If you have none
of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms, follow the Home Care Advice listed
in the final section. But be alert to any worsening or new symptoms.
If your condition changes for the worse, calling your doctor again is
a good idea.
- Reader's Responsibility. You are in control
of this process. If you think you need to be seen, call your doctor
for assistance. Or go the nearest emergency department.
- Copyright Protection Notice: All rights
reserved. No part of this program can be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy,
recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the author and publisher. It is prohibited
to make or distribute any unauthorized copies of these guidelines for
personal or business purposes, to create derivative works, etc. These
guidelines are copyright protected and are not available for any of
the following purposes:
- To use as a template or model for writing a
commercial product, be it printed or software.
- To use as a reference when writing a commercial
product, be it printed or software.
- To use as a resource for updating a commercial
product.
If you think that you are having a medical emergency, call
911 or the number for the local emergency ambulance service NOW!
And when in doubt, call your doctor NOW or go to the closest
emergency department.
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