Is pediatric trauma care an emergency?
Often, yes. A child's injury is an emergency when there is a head injury with loss of consciousness or repeated vomiting, a deformed or unusable limb, deep or uncontrolled bleeding, or any trouble breathing. Call 911 for major trauma or an unresponsive child.
Whether a child’s injury is an emergency depends on what was hurt and how. Many bumps and scrapes are not emergencies, but certain red flags mean the injury needs an emergency room right away, and a few mean you should call 911 before doing anything else.
Call 911 Immediately For
- A child who is unresponsive, will not wake up, or is only briefly responsive
- A seizure after a head injury
- Trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, or gasping
- Major trauma such as a high-speed car crash, a fall from significant height, or being struck by a vehicle
- Bleeding that spurts or will not slow with firm, direct pressure
- A neck or back injury where the child cannot move or has numbness or tingling
Do not move a child with a suspected neck or spine injury unless they are in danger; keep them still and wait for paramedics.
Red Flags That Make an Injury an ER Emergency
Even without calling 911, come to the ER right away for any of these:
- Head injury with warning signs: loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, confusion, unusual drowsiness, unequal pupils, or clear fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears
- A deformed, dislocated, or unusable limb, or a bone pushing against or through the skin
- Deep, gaping, or heavily contaminated wounds, or bleeding that soaks through a dressing
- A serious burn that is large, blistered, or on the face, hands, genitals, or across a joint
- Belly injury signs: severe or worsening abdominal pain, a rigid belly, or blood in the urine or stool after an impact
- Any significant injury in an infant. In babies under a few months old, even a fall from a bed or changing table should be evaluated promptly, because serious injuries can be hard to see.
When It Is Likely Not an Emergency
Small scrapes and shallow cuts that stop bleeding with pressure, minor bumps and bruises, and mild sprains in an older child who can still move and use the limb can usually be handled at home, by telemedicine, or at urgent care. Watch any head bump closely for 24 to 48 hours; if worsening headache, repeated vomiting, increasing sleepiness, or confusion develops, stop waiting and come in. When in doubt about a child, the ER is the safer choice.
For a complete guide, see our pediatric trauma care page. Bellaire ER is open 24/7 at 5302 Bellaire Blvd with on-site CT, X-ray, ultrasound, and lab. Walk in anytime or call (713) 660-0001.