Life’s Little Emergencies
Urgency or Emergency?
Urgent Care Clinics
Treat minor injuries and illnesses, including minor sprains, mild asthma, vomiting, minor burns, diarrhea, ear infections, sore throats and minor cuts.
Emergency Rooms
Treat serious or life-threatening conditions, including broken bones, severe asthma, coughing or vomiting blood, severe burns, severe abdominal pain, concussions, poisoning, and uncontrollable bleeding.
Source: www.acep.org
When there’s an accident, your child’s health and safety are your top priorities. How do you know when to treat something at home, call the doctor or head to the emergency room?
Life happens, and often that can mean accidents and injuries, especially for children. If you have doubts about what to do when your child is hurt, a good first move is to call your pediatrician or a nurse hotline. These medical professionals can direct you to the best level of care.
After your pediatrician’s office is closed, you will likely speak to pediatric nurses at The Children’s Hospital’s after-hours call center. About 90 percent of pediatrician practices in our area trust the nurses at Children’s to answer your questions when they are not available.
Here are some common childhood scenarios and the steps you can take when they happen:
“He shoved a crayon up his nose”
Objects in your child’s nose or ear have the potential to cause infections. Don’t try to remove the object yourself, as you may cause further damage. Call your pediatrician to get an appointment as soon as possible.
If the object comes out, but your child has a nosebleed, gently tilt his head forward and pinch the soft part of his nose for at least 10 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after two 10-minute attempts, take him to the emergency room.
“She swallowed a button”
Most small objects will pass through a child’s digestive system in about seven to 10 days. This includes pennies, buttons and marbles. However, if your child experiences vomiting, choking or unusual stomach pain, take her to the emergency room. These symptoms could also be the result of lead poisoning from inhaling or swallowing objects that contain lead. However, immediate severe reactions from lead exposure are rare.
“He has something in his eye”
If your child has dirt or sand in his eye, hold the eye open under a steady stream of water to flush out the irritant. If a plastic or metal object has penetrated the eye, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Convenient Help
Fast Fact
The Emergency Trauma Center at The Children’s Hospital is the only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in the region. Level I means we are equipped to handle all situations…all kids regardless of age or size…all the time.
Help is now even closer when your child has an emergency. The Children’s Hospital has opened two new Network of Care locations. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Joseph Hospital offers a 24-hour emergency room just for kids downtown and Care by The Children’s Hospital at Lutheran offers after-hours urgent care and pediatric specialist care for families on the west side of Denver.
If your child needs a primary care physician, call The Children’s Hospital ParentSmart! HealthLine at (720) 777-0123. See our Network of Care map for the location nearest you.
