are you talking about a family emergency? if so just call out. and dont make excuses. it is none of their business.
when my father in law died they gave me a hard time about leaving in the middle of the work day. i just said i am going home and just walked.
several months later that stupe was not at work and i asked the dispatcher about it and he said the guy called off. thia was around 10 pm. i waited till 3 oclock in the morning and called him and asked him why he was not at work.
wasnt very happy camper. but he never said a word to me the next time i saw him at work and never ever had a problem with him again.