What to do if…
you vomit blood or pass black, tarry, or bloody stools

What to do now

1. Call 911 if bleeding is heavy or continuous, you faint or become confused, you have trouble breathing, your skin becomes pale and cold or clammy, your heartbeat feels very fast, or you have severe abdominal pain.
2. If you vomited blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or passed black, tarry stool and none of those emergency signs are present, have someone take you to an emergency department right away.
3. If you saw fresh red blood in or on stool but none of the emergency signs are present, contact a healthcare professional promptly for assessment. Go to an emergency department if the bleeding continues, becomes heavier, or is accompanied by pain, dizziness, weakness, or shortness of breath.
4. Sit or lie somewhere safe while arranging help. Ask another person to stay with you, especially if you feel lightheaded or weak.
5. Tell the dispatcher or medical team whether the blood was bright red, dark red, mixed with stool, coating the stool, or looked like coffee grounds. Report when it began, whether it happened more than once, and approximately how much you saw.
6. Bring or show your medication list, especially blood thinners, antiplatelet medicines, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, iron, or bismuth. Mention any history of ulcers, liver disease, bleeding disorders, recent severe vomiting, procedures, or injuries, but do not delay leaving to gather information.
7. If your condition worsens while waiting or traveling, call 911 or update the 911 call-taker. Follow their instructions and do not hang up until told to do so.