WHEN YOUR CHILD NEEDS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
What is an emergency?
An emergency is when you believe a severe injury or illness is threatening your child’s health or may cause permanent harm. In these cases, a child needs emergency medical treatment right away.
Discuss with your child’s doctor in advance what you should do and where you should go in case of an emergency.
Emergencies can result from medical illnesses. In an emergency, your child may show any of the following signs:
- Strange or more withdrawn and less alert behavior
- Unconsciousness or no response when you talk with your child
- Rhythmic jerking (a seizure)
- Increasing effort or trouble breathing
- Skin or lips that look blue, purple, or gray
- Neck stiffness with fever
- Increasing or severe persistent pain
- A cut that is large, deep, or to the head, chest, or abdomen
- Bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure for 5 minutes.
- A burn that is large or involves the hands, feet, groin, chest, or face
- Any loss of consciousness, ongoing or worsening confusion, headache, or vomiting after a head injury
- Bicycle or car crashes
- Falls
- Burns or smoke inhalation
- Choking
- Drowning
- Firearms or other weapons
- Electric shocks
- Poisoning
Call 911 (or your local emergency number) for help if your child is not breathing, is unconscious or having a seizure, or if you are concerned that your child’s life may be in danger due to serious illness or injury. Call your child’s doctor if you think your child is ill or have a question about an injury or illness.
It is recommended that every parent learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and basic first aid. For classes near you, contact your child’s doctor, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or a national or local organization that offers training.
In Case of An Emergency
- Stay calm
- Start CPR if your child is unresponsive
- Give rescue breaths if your child is not breathing
- Call 911 if you need immediate help. If you do not have 911 services in your area, call your local emergency ambulance service or county emergency medical service. Most cell phones can reach 911, but you will have to tell the operator where you are.
- Apply continuous pressure to the site of bleeding with a clean cloth
- Place your child on the floor with her head and body turned to the side if she is having a seizure. Do not put anything into her mouth.
- Do not move your injured child unless he is in immediate danger (e.g. from a fire)
- Stay with your child until help arrives
Bring any medicine your child is taking with you to the hospital. Also, bring suspected poisons or other medicines your child may have taken.
After you arrive at the emergency department, make sure you tell emergency staff the name of our child’s doctor.
It is important to have an Emergency Information Form or similar form for each of your children. It should include cell phone numbers for parents, an emergency contact other than the parents, and health care needs of the child, including medicines and allergies. This form is available from the American Academy of Pediatrics ( www.aap.org ) and the American College of Emergency Physicians ( www.acep.org ). Attach the Emergency Information Form to a filled in copy of an emergency contact information form, and give it to the first emergency care person who sees your child.
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
