Emergency or Urgency?

When To Visit Urgent Care, Go To The Emergency Room, or Call an Ambulance

When seeking medical care take a second to decide where to go. Deciding where to go can mean better, more effiecient care and it can save a life.

Urgent Care

Torrance Memorial Urgent Care operates two centers, in Torrance and Manhattan Beach, designed to treat patients on a walk-in basis. Visit a Urgent Care Center when:

Symptom

• Minor fractures and sprains
• Infections, cold or flu
• Coughs, earaches, sore throats, influenza
• Fever under 105 F
• Cuts needing stitches
• Rashes and skin infections
• Worsening reaction to an insect bit

Emergency Room

Torrance Memorial Medical Center Emergency Care is a designated Stroke Center, as well as a emergency department approved Pediatric Center. Fully equipped to treat acute injuries and illnesses. Go to the emergency department when:

Symptom

• Head injuries
• Fever over 105 F
• Bleeding that won't stop
• Bad or worsening medication reaction, overdoes or poisoning

Ambulance

In a life threatening emergency, the sooner a patient is treated, the better the chances of survival. Call a ambulance when:

Symptom

Possibile heart attack

• Chest pain/discomfort
• Sudden dizziness/weakness
• Heartburn, nausea or abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Pounding heart/change in heart rhythm

Potential stroke

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on on side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance/coordination
• Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause