When to Take Your Child to the Emergency Department or Medical Office

01/15/2025 by Taylor Holston

Ensuring your child’s health and safety is always a top priority. Deciding whether to visit your child’s healthcare provider or head to the emergency room can sometimes be challenging. To help you navigate this decision, it’s important to know when each option is best. Dr. Meredith Merkley, North Country HealthCare’s Central Region Deputy Chief Medical Officer, offers some guidance for parents: 

When to Call Your Healthcare Provider’s Office for an Appointment 

If the situation is not an urgent medical issue or emergency (as described below), it’s usually best to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. By doing so, you’ll have a set time for the visit, allowing you to plan your day without the long wait times typically associated with the emergency room. Additionally, scheduled appointments are often covered by insurance or have lower co-pays than emergency room visits, saving you money. Moreover, regular visits allow your healthcare provider to become more familiar with your child’s unique health needs. 

The North Country School-Based Clinic is another great option for non-urgent care here in Flagstaff. Available at certain schools throughout the week, this clinic offers “drop-in” appointments, eliminating the need to schedule ahead. If you already have a primary healthcare provider, we will notify them about your visit, ensuring your child’s care team is up to date. Services include: 

• Well checks 

• Sick visits (with tests for COVID, flu, RSV, and strep) 

• Medication checks 

• Asthma checks 

If your child wakes up feeling unwell before school and you’re unsure if they’re too sick to attend, and you can’t get into your regular provider, the North Country Healthcare School-Based Clinic is an excellent option for a quick assessment. We can perform a full check-up and test for common respiratory viruses, such as COVID, flu, and RSV, as well as strep throat. For more information about our student health services, call 928.699.2515.

When to Take Your Child to the Emergency Department 

Certain situations require immediate attention, making a visit to the emergency department necessary. You should go to the emergency department if your child is experiencing any of the following: 

• Unusual tiredness, excessive sleepiness, or altered behavior 

• Severe, persistent, or worsening pain 

• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing 

• A serious injury 

• Ingestion of poison, household chemicals, or an overdose of medication 

• If the child is acting ok, call the Poison Control Center-1-800-222-1222. 

• If your child has trouble breathing, collapses or can’t wake up after ingesting a poison, chemical, or medicine, call 911. 

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a child under 2 months old 

• Fever accompanied by a stiff neck and headache 

• Fever and a widespread purple-red rash 

• Dehydration or inability to keep fluids down 

In these situations, prompt care is critical, and a visit to the nearest ED is essential. 

When to Call 911 

Some emergencies require immediate, life-saving intervention, and there’s no time to wait or transport your child to the emergency department. In these cases, call 911 immediately for urgent medical assistance: 

• Unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness 

• Not breathing 

• Choking 

• Severe head, neck, or spine injuries 

• Severe allergic reaction, especially with trouble breathing or vomiting 

• First-time seizure or seizure lasting more than 5 minutes 

• Severe burns, particularly near the eyes, nose, mouth, or groin 

• Ingestion of poison, household chemicals, or an overdose of medication 

• • If the child is acting ok, call the Poison Control Center-1-800-222-1222.
  • If your child has trouble breathing, collapses or can’t wake up after ingesting a chemical, poison, or medicine, call 911. 

Your child’s safety and health are important and sometimes it can feel confusing about where to take them for medical care. When in doubt, if there is not a life-threatening emergency call your healthcare provider. We all want to help our children feel the best! 

One response to “When to Take Your Child to the Emergency Department or Medical Office”

1. Great tips on knowing when to go to the emergency department! It’s so important for parents to recognize the signs early. Thanks for sharing this helpful guide!

   Reply

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