1. Last week, we mentioned a number of illnesses and conditions that are considered life-threatening according to halacha and warrant violating Shabbat in whatever manner necessary. This included a discussion of wounds. A less serious wound that nevertheless requires stitches is not necessarily treated as a life-threatening illness, and one should ideally discuss the situation with a doctor and a rabbi.

2. The following are additional potentially life-threatening situations, for which one should immediately violate Shabbat to get proper medical care: Appendicitis (or if one suspects the condition), severe allergic reactions to food, certain types of bladder problems, breathing difficulty, severe eye injury, and hypothermia (R. Yisroel Pinchos Bodner, Halachos of Refuah on Shabbos). A very high fever without an identifiable cause is also considered potentially life threatening and warrants violating Shabbat. According to R. Moshe Feinstein, this includes even a fever of 102°F (38.9°C) (Igrot Moshe, O.C. 1:129). However, most poskim rule that this applies only to a fever of around 104°F (40°C) or higher (Tzitz Eliezer 8:15, Shevet Halevi 3:36). All would, of course, agree that even a lower grade fever qualifies as a choleh she’ein bo sakanah, as explained previously.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.