Emergency Department Tips

Plan ahead for emergencies

"As part of each family's emergency preparedness planning, we encourage parents to consider alternative child care plans in the event of an emergency to protect healthy children from exposure to illness in the EDs," advises Barb Bisset, PhD, RN, executive director, WakeMed Emergency Services Institute. "Of course we understand that sometimes alternative child care is not available, especially in an emergency. In these cases, we are happy to accommodate parents' needs."

When to bring your child to the ED Following are some indicators that your child should be brought into the ED for evaluation:

• Any injury or trauma-related concern (i.e. a fall at the playground or a deep cut)
• Dehydration - if your child has not urinated in a long time or has dry lips
• Excessive tiredness - if your child is not active or interactive
• Fever - if your child has had a fever for 24 to 48 hours that cannot be reduced with standard medication (i.e. Tylenol or Motrin)
• Persistent vomiting
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

We're here for you and your kids

At WakeMed, we are committed to kids, and we are always here to care for yours. Our Children's ED on our Raleigh Campus is the first freestanding facility of its kind in the state, and last year we cared for nearly 45,000 children from infants to teens. Our EDs in Cary, North Raleigh and Apex also provide quality care for children as well as adults.

Emergency Department Tips

A trip to the Emergency Department is never fun, especially during flu season. Here are some tips to help you with a visit to the Emergency Department.

When you visit the ED

• Bring any items you may need for several hours away from home.
• Bring any applicable insurance information.
• Carry pocket change for vending machines or pay phones.
• Inform the nurse if your child's condition worsens while in the waiting room.

What the ED will need to know

• Allergies - This includes medications and food allergies.
• Medications - Include the dosage of any medication taken, and when it was last taken. Some medications react badly when taken together, so doctors need this information before they give a patient anything.
• Pre-existing illnesses - This information can have an impact on the type of tests and treatment administered in an emergency.
• Immunizations - It helps to have a written record of immunizations to give to health care providers.
• Height and weight - This can help doctors more accurately calculate medication dosage in an emergency.

WakeMed Flu Resource Center - Home Page