Know Where to Go

Sometimes, it’s obvious when to take your child to the emergency room, but other times, it can be more difficult to tell. Here are some tips to help you decide whether you need to head to the emergency room, the nearest urgent care location or your WakeMed Children’s — Pediatric Primary Care doctor. Luckily, you have the whole WakeMed Children’s network for support.

Primary Care Doctor

Our team of physicians leave room in their schedules for sick visits from their regular patients. Symptoms and conditions typically include:

• Minor asthma attack
• Bronchitis
• Colds, cough, flu, fever
• Dehydration
• Ear infection
• Migraine
• Minor burns
• Minor cuts/lacerations
• Nausea
• Pink eye
• Sore throat
• Sprain or strain
• Allergic reaction (if you are having difficulty breathing, you should head to the emergency room)
• School, sports, camp and work physicals

If it’s after-hours, you should head to urgent care or use WakeMed Virtual Urgent Care.

Urgent Care

Visit an urgent care office for these types of conditions:

• Sinus infections
• Cold or flu symptoms
• Minor cuts, burns or skin rashes
• Animal/insect bites
• Sprains and minor bone fractures
• Ear and eye infections
• Sore throat
• Minor injuries

Remember! WakeMed Virtual Urgent Care brings the care you need to wherever you are.

Emergency Room

Backed by the state's first dedicated, freestanding Children's Emergency Department on the WakeMed Raleigh Campus, all of our emergency departments are equipped, staffed and ready to provide expert care for children’s "unscheduled" emergencies. Wherever your little one's emergency happens, we've got you covered with expert care and state-of-the-art facilities and services.

Our emergency department typically treats:

• Chest pain
• Stroke
• Severe allergic reaction
• Serious trauma or injury
• Deep cuts or bleeding that won’t stop
• Large bone fractures
• Severe burns
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Abdominal pain
• Poisoning
• Poison control

In North Carolina, call the Carolinas Poison Control Center at 800-848-6946. Calling the National Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 connects callers to the nearest poison control center. To learn more about care options, locations and hours, visit wakemed.org.

This is reprinted from Families First. If you would like a hard copy, fill out our online form to subscribe.