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Is it an Emergency?
It’s 2:00 am and your toddler wakes up screaming. He’s
burning up with fever. What do you do?
Over 30 million parents choose the emergency room each year
for non-emergencies, which keeps doctors from responding to
real emergencies, raises health care costs and can be
stressful and time consuming for families. But, when you
believe your child’s life is in danger, what are your
options?
Dr. Joan Shook, Chief of Emergency Medicine at
Texas Children’s Hospital understands. “You feel like you’re
out on a limb, and you need to find peace of mind
somewhere.” But with a little advance preparation, that
peace of mind can usually be found in the comfort of your
home.
Get Ready Just in Case
A crisis comes without warning, so you have to be prepared
for it. Dr. Shook offers the following tips:
Talk to your doctor. Discuss what to do if your child
gets sick. Find out if your doctor offers after-hours care
and phone support.
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What Is a True Emergency?
A true emergency exists
if you believe a severe injury or illness is
threatening your child's health or may cause
permanent harm.
Some examples include: |
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Seizure |
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Difficulty breathing |
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Skin or lips that look blue,
purple or gray |
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Neck stiffness or rash with fever |
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Fever over 106° in an infant under
3 months of age |
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Increasing or severe persistent
pain |
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A cut that is large, deep or
involves the head, neck or abdomen |
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Bleeding that does not stop after
applying pressure for 5 minutes |
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A burn that is large and/or
involves the hands, feet, groin, chest or face |
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A head injury that is followed by
loss of consciousness, confusion, headache or vomiting
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Choking |
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Near drowning |
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Firearm wound |
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Electric shock |
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Poisoning |
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Know first aid. If you
don’t own a first aid book, get one and study it. Have a
first aid kit stocked and easily accessible.
Learn CPR and be prepared to use it. The American Red
Cross offers CPR certification courses. Visit the
American Red Cross Web site for more information.
Write it down. Having a written emergency plan will
help you and your babysitters and other caregivers. Include key phone numbers and addresses of emergency
contacts, doctors, hospitals, poison control, etc. Attach
your child’s vaccination record, medications list and known
allergies.
Have a plan if traveling. Research caregivers and
hospitals near your destination. This is especially
important if you have a child with a chronic condition.
Keep them healthy. A healthy child is less likely to
have an emergency, so see your doctor regularly, keep
immunizations current and manage illness.
Know your Resources
Find out which of these you have access to and learn how to
use them:
After hours phone support. Most pediatrician offices
offer this. At
Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates
clinics, nurses are available 24/7 via telephone, equipped
with a computerized triage system. They can walk you through
your crisis step-by-step and determine if your child needs
immediate care.
Office hours. Find out what your pediatrician's are.
Pediatric ER. Know where to go for skilled, pediatric
emergency care. And, know that you always have the legal right to
transfer to Texas Children’s Hospital. When it comes to your
child’s health, you want to be in the best hands possible.
EMS capabilities. Know the response times, level of
care and the hospitals they service.
24-hour clinics. Most of these are not equipped for
pediatric care nor are they capable of handling a
life-threatening emergency. Discuss specific clinics with
your doctor before using them.
Trust Your Instincts
You know your child better than anyone. If you truly feel he needs immediate care, then seek it. As Dr. Shook says,
“If you are so worried about your child that you can’t
sleep, then you need to take action.” Armed with the proper
tools and information, you may be able to take that action
at home—and get a good night’s sleep.
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