Preparing Your Child to Go to a 24 Hour Emergency Room Germantown, TN
No one hopes to take their child to a 24-hour emergency room (ER). When an emergency occurs, it can be stressful for the whole family. It can be a breath of relief, having trusted doctors able to comfort and treat your child any time of day. You may take comfort in knowing you are also not alone.
Before you take your child to an ER, speaking with your child's primary care doctor can prepare your child and family. Our team at People First Urgent & Primary Care Germantown discusses when you should seek emergency care and how to ease your child before being seen. If you are in Germantown or the surrounding area and are having an emergency, call us today at (901) 257-3077.
When to Go to a 24 Hour Emergency Room
Bumps, bruises, illnesses, and mishaps are part of life. Everyone will experience these to one degree or another. Many incidents will require little medical intervention, but the most serious conditions call for a visit to a 24-hour emergency room. Reasons to take a child to a 24 hour emergency room may include severe bleeding, a temperature over 102 degrees, when the child is having a hard time breathing, or when there is a severe burn. Before going to an ER, it can be beneficial for parents to comfort their child by taking a few steps such as speaking positively, talking with a pediatrician, simplifying the procedure for the child, and more.
“Many incidents will require little medical intervention, but the most serious conditions call for a visit to a 24-hour emergency room.”
Speak positively
Parents should use positive wording when preparing children in advance for a visit to the 24-hour emergency room. The critical aspect here is being attentive to their emotions since how a parent says something can be more significant than what is said. Talking to the child about how a doctor's role is to make them feel better can set a positive tone. Parents can positively enforce trust in the doctor by mentioning that they have been trained to help others through years of medical school.
“The critical aspect here is being attentive to their emotions since how one says something can be more significant than what is said.”
Reassure the child
Getting sick or hurt can be frightening for a young patient. A visit to the hospital can be stressful for any child. Parents should reinforce the idea that doctors and nurses have a child's well-being in mind. The pain and discomfort the child is feeling do not have to persist. If a parent has spent time in a 24-hour emergency room for their own needs, it may be helpful to share those memories. The parent can talk about why they went to the hospital and how the staff there provided relief.
Parents should not mislead children and make them think the 24-hour emergency room can solve any problem with ease. If the child asks questions about the procedures, the parent should be open. Since it can be frightening for children to go to the hospital, parents can reassure children about the gentle staff who will work hard to help them get well.
“If the child asks questions about the procedures, the parent should be open.”
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Talk to the pediatrician
Pediatricians are parents' best friends when it comes to helping their kids make smart health choices. KidsHealth.org offers tips to help parent's build a good relationship with their child's primary care doctor, such as:
- Be informed: Parents should ask the doctor to recommend reliable resources where they can get health information; many practices now have websites with useful information
- Be focused during the visit: Parents should focus all their attention on answering the doctor’s questions and listening to what the doctor has to say
- Follow up: Parents should make sure they understand what follow-up appointments, lab tests and medications their child needs before leaving the office
- Embrace new types of communication: Parents should use electronic health records (EHR) with a patient portal if the practice offers it. This is a convenient way to get answers to non-urgent questions
Children can feel more comfortable at the hospital when there is a good relationship with the pediatrician. For example, a child's primary care doctor can explain what happens in the emergency room. If the child feels positive about this doctor, there is a good chance the young patient will have a more positive experience at the ER. If the parent takes the child to the emergency room, they may refer the child out to a pediatrician for follow-up care.
“If the child feels positive about this doctor, there is a good chance the young patient will have a more positive experience at the ER.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. When should parents take a child to the emergency room?
Q. How do I keep my child calm before visiting the emergency room?
Q. Should I tell my child the truth about the emergency room?
Q. Who will the child be referred to for follow-up care?
Q. How should parents act when taking their child to the emergency room?
People Also Ask
Q. Should I bring anything to the emergency room with me?
Q. What are symptoms and treatments for rashes?
Q. How can you determine the severity level of a cut or bruise?
Remain Calm
If something happens where a parent knows it is time to go to the 24-hour emergency room with the child, the parent needs to keep their emotions in check. If a parent panics, the child likely will too. Keep a level head and calm demeanor as much as possible. No matter where the patient receives care, parents who maintain a calm demeanor can help the child relax, as well. The 24-hour emergency room may be a daunting place, but it can help treat the most serious conditions. Get your child ready for a possible visit by following the steps listed above.
Keeping calm will help prevent the child from picking up the parent's worry or concern. According to a recent article in healthychildren.org, "When you panic, your child's anxiety level goes up. For many kids, the anxiety about what's going to happen is worse than the actual pain." So be honest about what to expect but stay calm and positive, and chances are the child will too.
“Keep a level head and calm demeanor as much as possible.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When I take my child to the ER, How long should we be prepared to wait?
A. Unfortunately, you and your child may need to wait a long time. ERs attend to the most serious cases first. A call from your primary care doctor to the ER may help speed things up. However, it all comes down to seeing patients with the most serious cases first.
Q. What should you bring to the emergency room with your child?
A. Bring all of your child's health insurance information. Make sure you have a list of all the medications your child is on and any they are allergic to. Bring a list of any primary care doctor your child sees, along with any other specialists.
Q. What are some ways you can make your child more comfortable with going to the emergency room?
A. ER waiting rooms can be loud and hectic. Thus, it can help to bring some headphones for your child to listen to while waiting to drown out some of the hecticness. Depending on the age of your child, let them bring a favorite toy or stuffed animal if they have it. If your child has some kind of video game device, they should bring it to distract them in the waiting room. Check with the hospital first to see what is allowed.
Q. What will my health insurance cover?
A. This is a good thing for all parents to figure out before an emergency presents itself. Every insurance plan is different. It is a good idea for parents to familiarize themselves with the hospital and ER coverage of their plan.
Q. What should I do while my child is being seen by the ER staff?
A. Chances are your child will be a bit nervous despite your best efforts to calm them. You need to be your child's eyes and ears. Get the names of the hospital staff you come into contact with and take detailed notes on what is said about your child's illness or injury. If your child is discharged that day, be sure to get detailed follow-up instructions. Make a note of any medications given to your child at the hospital and fill any prescriptions. Read the prescription bottle carefully and make sure your child takes the prescription exactly as directed.
Start Feeling Better – Visit Us Today
By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with treatment options.
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Definition of Medical Terminology
Call Us Today
Advice from your child's primary care doctor can help put you and your child at ease. Our team at People First Urgent & Primary Care Germantown can help. Call us today at 901-257-3077 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment today.
Helpful Related Links
- American Academy of Family Physicians. American Academy of Family Physicians. 2022
- American Headache Society. American Headache Society. 2022
- American Journal of Medicine. American Journal of Medicine. 2022
- American Medical Association (AMA). American Medical Association (AMA). 2022
- American Trauma Society. American Trauma Society. 2022
- Stanford Children’s Health. Stanford Children’s Health. 2022
- The AAP Parenting Website. The AAP Parenting Website. 2022
About our business and website security
- People First Urgent & Primary Care Germantown was established in 2022.
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- We serve patients from the following counties: Shelby County
- We serve patients from the following cities: Germantown, Collierville, Memphis, Bartlett, Rossville, and Piperton
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