A common misconception these days is that children get the same type of care in a hospital emergency room as at their pediatrician’s office. Unfortunately, this is not true. We’ve designed this page to outline for parents when it is appropriate to call 911, when to take your child directly to the emergency room, and when to call the pediatrician. Of course the final decision should be made by the parent.

Unless advised by your doctor, you should not take your child to the emergency room for the following reasons:

• Fever
• Ear pain/infection
• Flu
• Colds
• Minor sprains
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Headaches
• Sore Throat

Call 911 if your child

• is not breathing or turning blue
• has sudden unconsciousness or cannot be awakened
• is having a seizure (convulsing)
• has severe unstoppable bleeding

Go to the emergency department when your child has

• severe breathing difficulty
• multiple or serious injuries, including fractures (broken bones)
• severe allergic reaction (swollen lips, swollen tongue, difficulty breathing)

Call Poison Control at 1-800-682-9211
If you believe your child may have eaten a poison or other toxic substance, you should first call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-682-9211.

Call Pediatric Associates of Medford at 781-396-1288
If you’re not sure whether your child’s condition is life threatening, please call our office to help determine whether emergency treatment is needed. One of our physicians is on call after hours to answer your questions and address your concerns. Most seemingly emergency situations can usually be managed over the phone until our office opens in the morning!