Do you know what to do in a medical emergency involving your child? A parent’s worst nightmare is seeing their child in pain or distress and feeling helpless. Kids are vulnerable to hazards and health issues, from bumping their heads to catching stomach bugs.
But being prepared and knowing what to do in an emergency can mean the difference between life and death. In such cases, parents don’t know whether they should take their kids to the ER or handle their issues with their pediatrician.
To help ease your mind, we’ll elaborate more on the situations that warrant a trip to the emergency room and where to find a reliable kids’ urgent care clinic in San Antonio.
Common Emergency Situations in Children
There are a lot of cases when kids need to visit the emergency room. In general, parents shouldn’t think twice about taking their little ones to the ER in the following cases:
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- Head injuries: These are common injuries kids can suffer, especially infants. Head injuries can cause speech impediments in kids, vomiting more than 2 or 3 times in a row, loss of balance, and so on.
- Seizures: Seizures are prevalent in infants and kids up to 3 years old. They can be triggered by many causes, with high fever being the most common.
- Obstructed breathing: A child with trouble breathing should be immediately taken to the ER. Numerous factors could cause breathing obstructions; doctors will know how to treat the issue properly.
- Fever accompanied by a rash: Doctors treat fevers over 101° F as a medical emergency. In addition, if a rash accompanies the fever, the child needs immediate medical treatment and warrants a trip to the ER.
- Agonizing stomach pain: Severe abdominal pain is often characterized by crying more than usual, spitting up or vomiting, rejecting food and drinks, mood changes, and new or unusual sleep disruptions.
These situations require immediate medical attention because they can be life-threatening or cause long-term health problems if not treated promptly.
Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For
Nobody knows their kids better than parents. Observing their behavior is the best way to tell if something’s wrong with your child. If you notice these symptoms, take your child to the ER immediately.
- High fever: A fever above 104°F can indicate a serious infection.
- Severe pain: Unrelenting pain, especially in the chest or abdomen, can be a sign of a serious medical condition.
- Difficulty breathing: Rapid or shallow breathing, wheezing, or gasping for air can indicate a lung or airway problem.
- Changes in consciousness: Confusion, disorientation, or unconsciousness can be signs of a brain injury or other serious medical condition.
- Seizures: Seizures can be a sign of a neurological condition or other underlying medical problem.
When to Call 911 vs. When to Drive to the ER
If your child is bleeding severely, can’t breathe, is shivering from pain and fever, or is choking, take them to the ER. In these cases, every second counts, so try to stay calm and drive to the ER.
On the other hand, there are cases where you would need to call 911 call rather than drive to the ER, such as:
- Severe bleeding: Bleeding that cannot be controlled with direct pressure or is causing unconsciousness or extreme weakness.
- Difficulty breathing: Rapid, shallow, or labored breathing or choking.
- Seizures: Seizures that last longer than five minutes or occur in rapid succession.
- Loss of consciousness: Fainting or unconsciousness that lasts longer than a minute.
- Severe allergic reactions: Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or hives.
Kidz Now Urgent Care: A Reliable Kids’ Urgent Care Clinic in San Antonio
We at Kidz Now Urgent Care put kids first, no matter what! Our pediatricians and medical support staff will treat your child for urgent and non-urgent medical conditions. We treat our youngest patients with respect, sincerity, and understanding, minimizing their anxiety and panic.
We also provide parents with a reliable, safe, and comforting experience, so you can rest assured that you and your loved one are in the safest hands.
Book your visit online or call us at (210) 934-5439. We’re always happy to help.