When can exhaustion become an emergency?

In a life-threatening situation, the emergency number 112 works free of charge everywhere in the EU, and 999 in the UK. The UK National Health Service (NHS) advises calling 999, for example, for sudden pain or discomfort in the chest that does not go away, for pain spreading to the arms, neck, jaw, stomach or back, and for chest pain with sweating, nausea, light-headedness or shortness of breath.

For thoughts of suicide, free helplines are available around the clock: in the UK Samaritans on 116 123, in the USA the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, in Germany the TelefonSeelsorge on 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222. Find A Helpline lists services in other countries.

If it is not life-threatening but cannot wait, NHS 111 can help in the UK on 111, and in Germany the medical on-call service on 116117. The German fatigue guideline names warning signs that should be checked by a doctor promptly, for example marked accompanying symptoms such as fever, night sweats and weight loss or severe depressive symptoms. For thoughts of suicide, the crisis lines above apply, and in acute danger the emergency number.

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