When to Bring Your Child to Emergency Room

Emergency

Not an Emergency

Breathing Problems:

• respiratory distress (working hard to breathe or breathing faster than normal)
• pale skin whitish or blue lips
• asthma or wheezing and not responding to prescribed medications 

Breathing Problems:

• nasal congestion and cough (even if it interrupts sleep)
• symptoms of the ‘common cold’

Fever:

• in a child less than 3 months old
• with complex chronic health problems
• and very sleepy or difficult to wake
• for more than 5 days in a child any age
• in children with warm, swollen or red joints

Fever:

• in children who appear generally well

Vomiting or diarhrhea:

• in a child less than 3 months old
• repeated vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
• vomiting or diarrhea containing blood
• vomiting bright green
• dehydration with dry lips, lethargy or no urine for more than 12 hours

Vomiting or diarhrhea:

• vomiting or diarrhea less than 3-4 times a day
• ongoing diarrhea after ‘stomach flu’ (this can last up to 2 weeks)

Injuries:

• head injury with loss of consciousness (passing out) or confusion
• head injury with visible bump behind the ears, sides of the head, or back of the head
• head injury with visible swelling and the child is less than 3 months old
• fall more than 5 feet or 1.5 metres
• cuts with gaping edges or continuing to bleed despite direct pressure
• burns that blister and are larger than a Loonie
• injury to arm or leg that looks crooked, causes inability to use the limb, or creates swelling that does not go down with ice and rest over 48 hours
• eye injuries
• injury causing chest or stomach pain

Injuries:

• minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness, no confusion and no vomiting)
• scrapes and bruises where the injured part can still be used
• sun burns

Rashes:

• fever with a rash that looks like either blisters or bruises that don’t turn white or fade when you push on them

Rashes:

• recurring rashes or skin problems
• rashes with cough and cold symptoms, if the child looks well
• mild hives that respond to antihistamines without difficulty breathing or throat/tongue swelling/vomiting/fainting

Poisoning:

• if your child ingests a chemical, medication or poison, call the poison control centre at 1-800- 567-8911. Come to emergency if directed by them

Poisoning:

• if your child ingests a chemical, medication or poison, call the poison control centre at 1-800- 567-8911. Follow their instructions