Situations that Require Medical Attention Right Away

In the two boxes below, you will find lists of common medical emergencies or urgent situations you may encounter as a child care provider. To prepare for such situations:

1) Know how to access Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in your area.

2) Educate Staff on the recognition of an emergency.

3) Know the phone number for each child's guardian and primary health care provider.

4) Develop plans for children with special medical needs with their family and physician.

At any time you believe the child's life may be at risk, or you believe there is a risk of permanent injury, seek immediate medical treatment.

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Call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) immediately if:

You believe the child's life is at risk or there is a risk of permanent injury.

The child is acting strangely, much less alert, or much more withdrawn than usual.

The child has difficulty breathing or is unable to speak.

The child's skin or lips look blue, purple, or gray.

The child has rhythmic jerking of arms and legs and a loss of consciousness (seizure).

The child is unconscious.

The child is less and less responsive.

The child has any of the following after a head injury: decrease in level of alertness, confusion, headache, vomiting, irritability, or difficulty walking.

The child has increasing or severe pain anywhere.

The child has a cut or burn that is large, deep, and/or won't stop bleeding.

The child is vomiting blood.

The child has a severe stiff neck, headache, and fever.

The child is significantly dehydrated: sunken eyes, lethargic, not making tears, not urinating.

After you have called EMS, remember to call the child's legal guardian.

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Some children may have urgent situations that do not necessarily require ambulance transport but still need medical attention. The box below lists some of these more common situations. The legal guardian should be informed of the following conditions. If you or the guardian cannot reach the physician within one hour, the child should be brought to a hospital.

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Get medical attention within one hour for:

Fever in any age child who looks more than mildly ill.

Fever in a child less than 2 months (8 weeks) of age.

A quickly spreading purple or red rash.

A large volume of blood in the stools.

A cut that may require stitches.

Any medical condition specifically outlined in a child's care plan requiring parental notification.

Approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, January 2001.