When to Call 911 About a Childhood Emergency
It's every parent's nightmare: a medical emergency involving your child. Whether it's difficulty breathing or a fall at the park, knowing when to call 911 can help you cope quickly and efficiently with childhood emergencies and stay calm under pressure.
Here are some guidelines for 7 of the most common medical emergencies in children:
Phenylketonuria
Important It is possible that the main title of the report Phenylketonuria is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
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1. Respiratory Distress
Respiratory distress refers to difficulty breathing and taking in enough oxygen. Causes may include choking, asthma, an infection, or pneumonia. The signs of respiratory distress are coughing, wheezing, labored breathing (especially flaring of the nose and use of chest and neck muscles to aid breathing), grunting, inability to talk, or turning blue.
When to Call 911:
If these signs are present, don't try to put your child in a car -- call an ambulance. The paramedics can deliver oxygen and get your child safely to the hospital.
2. Broken Bones
Broken bones are common childhood emergencies. While these injuries are usually not life-threatening, the child should be taken to a hospital or urgent care center for evaluation. Generally speaking, parents can drive kids with broken bones to the hospital themselves.
When to Call 911:
3. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
Vomiting and/or diarrhea can require emergency care if a child becomes dehydrated. If your child can't keep anything down or has severe diarrhea, watch for signs of dehydration such as sunken eyes, dry mucus membranes, and abnormally low amounts of urine. If any of these appear your child should be evaluated by the doctor
When to Call 911:
4. Febrile Seizures
Here are some guidelines for 7 of the most common medical emergencies in children:
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Phenylketonuria
Important It is possible that the main title of the report Phenylketonuria is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Read the Phenylketonuria article > >
1. Respiratory Distress
Respiratory distress refers to difficulty breathing and taking in enough oxygen. Causes may include choking, asthma, an infection, or pneumonia. The signs of respiratory distress are coughing, wheezing, labored breathing (especially flaring of the nose and use of chest and neck muscles to aid breathing), grunting, inability to talk, or turning blue.
When to Call 911:
- The rate of breathing is greater than 50 to 60 breaths per minute.
- The child is turning blue around the mouth.
- The condition is worsening instead of improving.
If these signs are present, don't try to put your child in a car -- call an ambulance. The paramedics can deliver oxygen and get your child safely to the hospital.
2. Broken Bones
Broken bones are common childhood emergencies. While these injuries are usually not life-threatening, the child should be taken to a hospital or urgent care center for evaluation. Generally speaking, parents can drive kids with broken bones to the hospital themselves.
When to Call 911:
- The break is so severe that you can't control the pain.
- The bone is sticking out of the skin.
- The accident involves trauma to the head or neck.
- The accident has caused a state of altered consciousness.
3. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
Vomiting and/or diarrhea can require emergency care if a child becomes dehydrated. If your child can't keep anything down or has severe diarrhea, watch for signs of dehydration such as sunken eyes, dry mucus membranes, and abnormally low amounts of urine. If any of these appear your child should be evaluated by the doctor
When to Call 911:
- The child is unresponsive.
- There is severe cramping and unrelenting abdominal pain. This could indicate appendicitis or kidney stones, for example.
4. Febrile Seizures