Hi Mary and Company, There is no specific number of tampons to be soaked before going to the emergency room. First of all define tampon. I have experienced flooding and it is really scarey when it happens. I would put in two super tampons and an extra absorbant pad and in half an hour the blood would be running around the pad and down my legs. Aside from being uncomfortable and inconvenient, a bleed through was predictably stressful and embarassing.
Blood represents life.
It depends on the circumstances, your knowledge of your personal history and your previous experience with bleeding as to what you will do. Chances are that if you go to the ER sure that you are bleeding to death, you will sit for hours waiting for your turn to be seen and there will be little they can do for you. Chances are the bleeding will slow down by itself and they will tell you to see the doctor in his office next day. When these bleeds have happened to one over and over it becomes commonplace, but the first time it happens is the worst and most likely to find one going to the emergency room. Just my thoughts after my experience.