Emergency Guidance: When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention or Visit the ER
Knowing when to seek emergency care can make a critical difference in your child’s health. Below is a guide for certain serious symptoms that may require urgent attention.
Signs to Watch For:
-
- Breathing difficulties: Gasping for air, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, or unusually fast breathing.
- Inability to tolerate fluids: If your child cannot drink or keep fluids down for several hours.
- Significant drowsiness: Unusual lethargy or difficulty staying awake.
- High fever in young infants: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher in a baby less than 2 months old.
- Seizures: Especially if your child has never had a seizure before.
- Head injury: If accompanied by fainting, vomiting, or unusual behavior.
- Lacerations or bleeding: Cuts that may require stitches, or bleeding that doesn’t stop after applying firm pressure for 5 minutes.
- Severe allergic reactions: Particularly if there is difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, vomiting, near fainting, or sweating.
- Severe abdominal pain: Especially if it is concentrated in the lower right part of the stomach.
- Blood in vomit or stool: A large or noticeable amount of blood.
Important Note:
This list is not comprehensive or all-inclusive but serves as a guide for common emergency situations. If you believe your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room immediately.
Your child’s health and safety are our top priority. Don’t hesitate to seek help when in doubt.
Resource hotlines
Poison control 1-800-222-1222
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988
