What should I do if my child is choking?

If the child is conscious and coughing forcefully, let them continue coughing. If they cannot cough, speak, or breathe and are turning blue, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) for children over one year old. For infants under one, use back blows and chest thrusts. Call emergency services immediately regardless of the situation if choking is severe.

How can I tell if a fever is dangerous for my child?

A fever above 104°F (40°C) or any fever in an infant under three months old is an emergency. More importantly, watch for warning signs like difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, severe lethargy, a seizure, or a child who looks critically ill. The temperature number matters less than the child's overall condition and behavior.

When should I take my child to urgent care instead of the ER?

Urgent care is appropriate for minor injuries, basic infections requiring antibiotics, minor rashes, or when your regular doctor is unavailable and emergency services are not needed. If your child has difficulty breathing, severe pain, signs of shock, a high fever with a bad rash, head trauma with loss of consciousness, or any life-threatening symptom, call emergency services instead.

My child swallowed something. Should I induce vomiting?

Never induce vomiting without specific instructions from Poison Control or emergency services, as this can do more harm than good. Some substances cause more damage coming back up. Instead, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or emergency services immediately. Have the container or substance name available so responders can give accurate guidance.

Child Emergency Red Flags: When to Call Emergency Services

Breathing and Airway Emergencies

A child's airway and breathing are the first things to assess in any emergency. When a child suddenly starts gasping, wheezing severely, or makes high-pitched noisy breaths, immediate action is needed. These sounds can indicate partial or full airway blockage, croup, or anaphylaxis. If the child cannot speak, cry, or breathe at all, call emergency services right away.

Look for blue lips or face, flaring nostrils, belly breathing, or retractions where the skin pulls in around the ribs or neck with each breath. These are signs of serious respiratory distress. A child who is struggling this hard is using all available energy to breathe and can deteriorate rapidly. Even if the child seems to improve briefly, emergency medical help should still be contacted.

If the child is conscious but in severe respiratory distress, keep them in a position that helps them breathe, usually upright or on their side. Do not force them to lie flat if they cannot tolerate it. If they vomit or there is vomit in the mouth, gently clear it and turn them onto their side if possible. Stay with the child and monitor constantly until help arrives.

Severe Pain or Shock Indicators

Pain that causes a child to scream continuously, become rigid, or go unusually quiet should never be ignored. Sudden severe abdominal pain can indicate appendicitis, intussusception, or bowel obstruction. A child who was previously active and playful suddenly clutching their stomach or crying out in pain needs urgent evaluation. Pain that seems out of proportion to any visible injury is always a red flag.

Shock is a life-threatening condition where the body's organs are not getting enough blood flow. Signs include pale, mottled, or sweaty skin, rapid breathing, weak or absent pulse, dizziness, or fainting. The child may appear anxious, confused, or unusually irritable. Capillary refill time (how long it takes for color to return to a pressed fingernail) lasting more than two seconds can also indicate poor circulation.

If shock is suspected, lay the child flat with legs elevated if there is no suspected spinal injury or breathing difficulty. Keep them warm with a blanket but avoid overheating. Do not give anything to eat or drink. Call emergency services immediately and stay with the child until help arrives. Every minute counts in shock situations.

Neurological Changes and Unconsciousness

Any change in a child's mental state is a major emergency. If a child becomes difficult to wake, confused, inconsolable, or acts as if they are drunk or confused, call 911 immediately. Seizures that do not stop, fever with a rash, severe headaches with neck stiffness, or sudden weakness or numbness are all neurological red flags requiring emergency care.

A child who loses consciousness, even briefly, needs emergency evaluation. If the child is unconscious but still breathing normally, place them on their side in the recovery position to keep the airway open. Check for injuries, fever, or signs of poisoning. Do not try to make an unconscious child sit or stand. Monitor breathing continuously and be ready to begin rescue breathing or CPR if needed.

After a seizure, if the child does not return to their normal state within a few minutes, or if another seizure follows immediately, this is a medical emergency. Note how long the seizure lasted and whether the child is now breathing normally. Even if the child seems fine afterward, they should be evaluated by medical professionals.

Dehydration and Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea

Persistent vomiting or diarrhea can quickly lead to dangerous dehydration in children. Watch for dry mouth, no tears when crying, dizziness when sitting up or standing, sunken eyes or soft spot (fontanelle) on the head, and significantly fewer wet diapers or trips to the bathroom. In young children, urinating less than once in eight hours is concerning.

If a child shows signs of moderate to severe dehydration, they need medical attention right away. These signs include extreme fatigue, irritability, cold hands and feet, rapid breathing, or a very dry tongue and throat. Vomiting blood, blood in the stool, or black tarry stools are additional emergency indicators that require immediate care.

While waiting for help, offer small sips of water or an oral rehydration solution if the child is conscious and able to swallow. Do not give milk, juice, or solid foods if the child is actively vomiting. For infants, continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as usual unless instructed otherwise by emergency personnel.

Trauma and Visible Injuries Requiring Immediate Care

High-impact injuries such as falls from significant height, car accidents, or direct blows to the head or chest are emergencies. If a child has a suspected broken bone that is visibly deformed or piercing through the skin, a penetrating injury, severe burns, or a head wound that will not stop bleeding, call emergency services immediately. Any injury that causes the child to stop playing, cry inconsolably, or lose consciousness needs urgent attention.

Signs of internal bleeding include a swollen, rigid abdomen, bruising in unusual places, or blood in vomit or stool. A child who complains of severe pain after trauma, even if no external injury is obvious, may have internal injuries. Trust your instincts as a parent or caregiver; if something feels seriously wrong after an injury, it usually is.

If an object is embedded in the body, do not remove it. Stabilize the object to prevent movement and control any bleeding around it. For burns, remove jewelry and tight clothing near the burned area before swelling sets in, but do not apply ice, butter, ointments, or any substances to the burn. Cover the area loosely with a clean cloth and wait for professional help.

Fever, Rash, and Sudden Onset Illness

While fever alone is rarely an emergency, certain accompanying symptoms are. A child with a high fever who is also developing a rash, especially a purple or red pinpoint rash, may have meningococcus or another serious infection. If the fever comes on suddenly with a severe sore throat and the child looks very ill, this could indicate epiglottitis, which can block the airway.

If a child develops a fever after being bitten by an animal, has been in tick-infested areas and shows flu-like symptoms with a bull's-eye rash, or has signs of severe allergic reaction including swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, these are urgent emergencies. A child who has been sick and then suddenly worsens, stops breathing, or has trouble swallowing needs immediate medical help.

If a child is having trouble swallowing, drooling excessively, or holding their neck stiffly, do not attempt to examine the throat as this could cause the airway to close. These are signs of epiglottitis. Keep the child calm and upright and wait for emergency help. Do not give anything by mouth until the airway is confirmed to be safe.