When your child is sick or injured, it’s natural to want to head straight for the emergency room (ER). You know that you can get care, regardless of the time, day, or severity of your child’s injury.
In some cases, it is a true medical emergency and the ER (also called the emergency department, or ED) is the right place to get care.
In other cases, the illness or injury can be handled at an urgent care clinic or whenever your child’s doctor can see you.
When the ER is the right place to go, it’s important to know what to expect once you get there.
Finding the Right ER at the Right Time
In some situations, you should dial 911 to get an ambulance instead of taking your child to the ER yourself. Call 911 if:
- Your child is having trouble breathing and is turning blue.
- There has been a car accident and your child is unconscious or seriously injured.
- Your child is having a seizure.
- Your child loses consciousness or is not responsive.
- Your child might have a neck or spine injury.
- Your child has a head injury with a loss of consciousness, lasting vomiting, or is not responding normally.
- Your child has significant uncontrolled bleeding.
- Your child has a possible poisoning and is not responding normally or is having trouble breathing. In any possible poisoning, call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) for expert advice. They may direct you to the ER.
