Does your child or youth need emergency care?
As a parent or guardian, you know your child best. CHEO’s Emergency Department is always here for you. Here are some examples to help you decide if your child is in need of emergency care:
Emergency:
- Fever in infants less than 3 months old; children with immune system problems or complex chronic health problems; child is very sleepy or difficult to wake despite fever medicine
- Breathing problems including respiratory distress (working hard to breathe, breathing faster than normal, pale skin, whiteish or blue lips); asthma or wheezing not responding to usual puffers
- Vomiting or diarrhea in infants less than 3 months, child with repeated vomiting and unable to keep any liquids down for more than 8 hours, vomiting or diarrhea containing large amount of blood, signs of dehydration with dry mouth or no urine more than 8 hours
- Injuries such as:
- head injury with severe headache, loss of consciousness (passing out), confusion or repeated vomiting
- cuts that may need stitches, bleeding that won't stop
- burns that blister and are larger than a Loonie
- injury to arm or leg causing large swelling or inability to use the limb, obviously broken or dislocated bones
- eye injuries
- injury causing chest or stomach pain.
- Rash with fever that looks like tiny or expanding bruises
- Sudden weakness or difficulty talking
- Severe abdominal pain
Not an emergency:
- Fever in healthy and vaccinated babies and children who appear generally well and playful when the fever is down with ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) or acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Tempra®). Most fever in children is due to viral infection and lasts 3-5 days
- Symptoms of the 'common cold' including nasal congestion and cough (even if it interrupts sleep), mild asthma or wheezing that responds to usual puffers
- Vomiting or diarrhea less than 3-4 times a day if child is peeing well; ongoing diarrhea from the ‘stomach flu’ can last for up to two weeks.
- Injuries such as:
- minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness, no confusion and no vomiting)
- scrapes and bruises where the injured part can still be used
- Sprained ankle if child is still able to walk, even if limping
- Recurring rashes or skin problems; rashes with cough and cold symptoms if the child looks well, mild hives that respond to antihistamines (Reactine®) without difficulty breathing or throat/ tongue swelling.
For more information to help you decide if your child or youth needs to visit the Emergency Department, read through this handout.
Where to go for same-day assessment and care for your child:
Primary-care provider or walk-in clinic
If you child has new symptoms and you have a primary-care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner or pediatrician), please contact their office first. Many community providers are offering in person or virtual appointments.
If you don't have a primary-care provider, visit a walk-in clinic. In Ontario, call 211 (24/7) for information about walk-in clinics close to you.
Kids Come First COVID-19 Care Clinic
If your child is over 2 months and has new symptoms such as fever, cough, vomiting, belly pain, ear ache, or runny nose, cannot be seen in-person by their primary care provider, and needs to be assessed in-person, book an appointment here;
Kids Come First COVID-19 Care Clinic
Note that if your child has had a COVID-19 test in the last few days because of these symptoms, you can still be seen in-person in the Kids Come First COVID-19 Care Clinic.
CHEO Virtual Emergency Department
If your child has new symptoms (including a mild injury) but generally looks well, a virtual visit with an emergency doctor may be appropriate. They will assess your child and decide if additional care is needed.
CHEO Emergency Department
If your child is very sick and needs to be seen immediately:
COVID-19 testing
If your child only requires a COVID-19 test, go to the COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre.