A Parent's Guide to Make The Right Call

A Parent's Guide To MakeThe RightCal When your child is sick, it's sometimes hard to know who to call. Your family doctor or pediatrician is usually the best choice, but when do you go straight to the emergency department (ED)? When is urgent care the best choice? Before an emergency happens or care is needed, talk to your child's doctor about the types of conditions that should be treated in an emergency department, urgent care center, or his or her office. Family Doctor or Pediatrician Your child's doctor typically treats these conditions during office hours: Asthma allergic reactions Mild wheezing Mild burns Diarrhea Vomiting Dehydration Mild to moderate Earaches *Fever Sprains Cuts Sore throats Strep throat Rashes Bumps *Low-moderate fever under 100.4°F in infants and under 105°F in children six months and older. Emergency Department - Call 911 High Fever Toxic Chemical Under three months old, 100.4°F or higher Ingested toxic chemical or medication that wasn't prescribed to them Three to six months old, 105°F or higher Greater Cincinnati residents may also contact The Cincinnati Drug and Poison Control Information Center's 24-hour emergency line at (513) 636-5111 Changes in skin color (turning pale, yellow, or blotchy) Difficulty Breathing Broken Bone Breathing faster than normal Open wound where a bone might be broken Visible ribs or collarbone when breathing in Child reports the area feels numb, tingling, or weak Belly moving outward when breathing in Changes in muscle tone, or if they feel different (baby) Nostrils moving outward when breathing in Blue lips, tongue, or skin Bone that looks out of place/deformed Breathing changes (slow, labored) Change in their normal cry (baby) Stops breathing, has a seizure, or is difficult to wake Urgent Care Urgent care centers treat some of the same conditions as a family doctor when doctors' offices are typically closed. Call your child's doctor first for a recommendation about where to go. Urgent care centers don't have your medical history; take a list of your Rx and allergies with you. Minor head injury with no loss of Pink eye Earache Runny nose Cough Sore throat Common pediatric illness such as Mild to moderate allergic reactions Rashes stomach flu, diarrhea and vomiting Bumps consciousnes X3 Minor burns Simple lacerations *Fever Mild asthma Splint fractures and injuries to arms, legs, fingers, and toes (Skin intact) attacks Wounds *Low-moderate fever under 100.4°F in infants and under 105°F in children six months and older. This information is a guide for a discussion with your child's doctor and should not be used as direction to replace his or her medical advice. Content source: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, www.cincinnatichildrens.org/ed-or-urgent-care Your HealthMatters MakeTheRightCll YourtlealthMatters.org өX