Immediate Medical Help
Find information about what to do during a medical emergency and what to do for urgent conditions.
What to Do for Medical Emergencies
Life-Threatening Conditions
In the event of serious injury or a clear threat to life, obtain paramedic or ambulance assistance immediately.
- Call 9-911 on campus, or use a blue emergency phone
- Call 911 off campus, or from your cellular phone
- Be prepared to say exactly where you are, and what is wrong
You will be taken to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. The Stanford University Medical Center Emergency Department is the nearest one on campus, located near the intersection of Campus Drive and Quarry Road. Call 650.723.5111.
What to Do for Urgent Conditions
Call 650.498.2336, extension 1, for advice about where to receive the proper level of care or access options through the button below.
Examples of Medical Emergencies
Examples of life-threatening conditions include the following:
- Difficulty breathing for any reason
- Major injury (e.g., open chest wound with trouble breathing; spinal or neck injury with loss of sensation or motion; obvious fracture, especially with visible bone)
- Severe allergic reaction with throat swelling
- Severe asthma
- Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness (e.g., drug or alcohol overdose)
Examples of Urgent Conditions
Although the examples listed below may not be life threatening, get a medical evaluation as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Significant pain (e.g., in the chest, abdomen, head, neck or ear, especially with fever)
- Asthma (which is not responding to usual medication)
- Urinary infection (especially with fever or back pain)
- Possible fracture or dislocation
- Any injury with significant pain or swelling
- Laceration (a cut requiring stitches)
- Bee sting reaction (e.g., with hives or swelling of your whole arm or leg)
- Fever in a returning traveler
- Animal bite
