"Emergency Room Overuse"
FOR AIR WEEK OF May 2, 2005

If your child has an illness or injury, when should you go to the hospital emergency room?

Hi, I’m Dr. John Hellerstedt with the Children’s Health Minute, presented by this station and TexCare--connecting families with children’s health insurance for 25 dollars a month or less.

Emergency care is care that’s needed right away. If a medical condition arises suddenly and you believe that without immediate treatment your child’s life or health is in jeopardy, then you should go to the emergency room.

Unless your child’s condition is serious, contacting your child’s doctor’s office or going to an urgent care center is often a better solution. If you have any doubts, call your child’s doctor.

However - poisoning, a head injury, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or coughing up or vomiting blood do require an immediate call to 9-1-1.