Five Reasons Why College Students Are Commonly Admitted to the ER

Many college students utilize health centers on campus to meet routine health needs.  However, the best health insurance is often needed to address emergency medical attention among college students.  According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Americans ages 18-25 are at higher risk for being involved in car accidents and experiencing alcohol poisoning than other age groups.  In addition, college students are not exempt from emergency medical scenarios commonly experienced by almost all ages, such as broken limbs, head trauma, or appendicitis. 

1.Medical Emergencies due to Violent Crime

People often do not associate college campuses with violent crime.  Despite security measures taken by most major campuses, violent crime does occur on campus and in the surrounding areas such as off-campus parking structures.  USnews.com recently published an article about taking the amount of violent crime on campus into account before attending any given university.  The Clery Act of 1982 requires all institutions of higher education that participate in federal financial aid programs to disclose all violent crimes that happen on and near campus.  Victims of violent crime often need extensive emergency medical attention after sustaining injuries.

2.Heart Palpitations, Hypertension, and Panic Attacks 
Many college students can find balancing school, work, and everyday activities to be overwhelming to the point where students may suffer from stress-related medical ailments that prompt them to seek emergency medical attention.  Numerous people that experience a full-blown panic attack for the first time mistake it for a heart attack and seek emergency help.  Extreme hyperventilation can result in confusion and eventual loss of consciousness, which can also lead others to call emergency medical personnel.  Due to the prevalence of fatal heart disease, many hospitals will administer an emergency EKG to rule out the possibility of a life-threatening pulmonary embolism during a panic attack or severe heart palpitations. 

3.Medical Emergencies Related to Alcohol and Parties
There have been numerous high-profile stories in the news about college students that die due to excessive alcohol consumption and subsequent failure to seek necessary emergency medical attention for alcohol poisoning.  In addition to direct alcohol poisoning, many students are admitted to the emergency room after unknowingly consuming an unknown substance (e.g. a powerful sedative) that was put in a drink by a person with malicious intent.  Emergency room staff often has to take measures to ensure the safety of the patient suffering from alcohol poisoning or poisoning from an unknown substance by keeping the patient in the hospital for observation overnight.

4.Car Accidents

In addition to fatalities, auto accidents are responsible for numerous injuries of varying degrees.  Medical consequences from involvement in auto accidents can range from a few minor injuries that do not require professional medical attention to extensive brain trauma or even death.  According to Forbes.com, auto accidents are the primary cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 34.  Victims involved in auto accidents may require ongoing medical attention by specialists such as orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and occupational therapists in addition to initial emergency medical attention.

5.Common Medical Emergencies

College students are not exempt from common, potentially life-threatening medical emergencies such as appendicitis, concussions, and serious infections.  Getting the best health insurance is necessary to be prepared for all medical emergencies that can have serious consequences if left unaddressed for two or three days.  The conditions listed above can often be effectively treated if promptly diagnosed, but they can be debilitating or fatal if left untreated over a long weekend.

How to Protect Students with the Best Insurance

One of the best ways to protect yourself or a loved one from medical emergencies that happen to healthy students is to invest in the best health insurance.  Victims of significant medical ailments, accidents, or crime should take appropriate measures to ensure that they are not faced with a significant financial burden after experiencing a traumatic event in the emergency room.  College students can address routine medical issues at on-campus health centers.  For life-saving emergency medical emergencies, students often need extra support.  After graduation, few students should have to repay thousands in medical expenses in addition to thousands in student loans.  Unfortunately, bad things happen to good people. Be prepared with the best medical insurance for students.