When to Bring Your Child to the Emergency Room

As parents, it’s helpful to know that not every injury, accident, or onset of some physical condition requires a visit to the ER. However, there are special circumstances that do. Most pediatrician offices are not equipped to deal with emergencies, so Dr. Jamie Kondis, Pediatrician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, helps to identify when to bring your child to the emergency room. One of the biggest reasons would be if your child is having difficulty breathing characterized by gasping for air, a change in skin color, or abnormal chest movements. Swallowing medication or foreign objects, major trauma such as lacerations or broken bones, and dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea also require emergency assistance. Most of the time, conditions requiring an ER visit are treatable without being admitted but it is important to get there as quickly as possible so your child can receive the necessary medical attention.

The St. Louis Children’s Hospital YouTube station is intended as a reference and information source only. If you suspect you have a health problem, you should seek immediate care with the appropriate health care professionals. The information on this website is not a substitute for professional care, and must not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. For help finding a doctor, St. Louis Children's Hospital Answer Line may be of assistance at 314.454.KIDS (5437). The opinions expressed in these videos are those of the individual writers, not necessarily St. Louis Children's Hospital or Washington University School of Medicine. BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine assume no liability for the information contained in this website or for its use.