When to call 911:
- Not breathing or significant difficulty in breathing
- Turning blue
- Seizures or convulsions
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Neck injuries
- Loss of consciousness, with or without a history of trauma
- Drug overdose (also call Poison Control at 202-625-3333)
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Inability to swallow
- Serious burns
- Severe abdominal pain, especially after trauma
- Severe allergic reaction (even if you've used your Epi-Pen)
We encourage all parents to take a First Aid Class and learn CPR.
Locate a local Emergency Room.
Some urgent problems are not life-threatening but may be aggravated by delaying treatment. For Example:
- Recurrent vomiting may lead to dehydration
- A teenager threatening suicide
- A worsening asthma attack, despite usual home treatment
When to visit the Emergency Room or Urgent Care:
Most families have used an Emergency Room at least once in their lifetime. Although emergency room care can be life-saving, it may come with long waits and high costs. Please use good judgment in using the Emergency Room. Our office can often treat urgent conditions as well. You may also consider an urgent care facility if our office is not open. You can also call our office for advice related to urgent (not life-threatening) conditions.
Consider visiting Urgent Care or the Emergency Room
- Fever (over 100.4) in infants under 3 months old
- Asthma attacks not being controlled by usual medications
- Head injuries
- Eye injuries
- Allergic reactions
- Injury to teeth (call Dentist)
When to Call NOVA Pediatrics
The following are common problems that are usually not considered to be emergencies, and can wait for office evaluations:
- Minor cuts and scrapes
- Cold and coughs with no difficulty in breathing
- Diaper Rashes
- Ringworm
- Sore throats
- Constipation
- Flu
- Lice
- Pinworms
- Earaches
- Poison ivy
- Bites by ticks or mosquitoes
- Pinkeye
Out of Town Emergency
In case an out-of-town emergency occurs, do the following:
- Please familiarize yourself with your insurance company policy for seeking care when out of the area. We can help you decide what level of service is needed, but we do not know the facilities that your insurance company may prefer.
- Remember to take along your child's medications and equipment.
- If your child has a significant medical problem that may require emergency care, familiarize yourself in advance with the facilities available at your destination.
