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When To Go: Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care

When your child needs medical care and can’t wait until your doctor’s office opens, where should you go? This chart will help you know whether a visit to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room is best.

When to call 911

If you think your child’s life is in danger, call 911. Potentially life-threatening situations may include:

  • Choking or extreme difficulty breathing (anaphylaxis concerns) 

  • Loss of consciousness, severe confusion, or unable to awaken

  • Seizures

  • Bleeding that does not stop

  • Burns to the head or neck

  • A child who is threatening to harm themselves or others

Emergency Room

The Emergency Room can help with serious or severe illnesses and injuries, such as:

  • Asthma attack (severe)

  • Bleeding that won't stop

  • Broken bone (looks bent, curved or deformed)

  • Bronchiolitis (with difficulty breathing

  • Burn (severe)

  • Cast problems (soiled or wet)

  • Cut (severe)

  • Fainting

  • Fever (infants less than 2 months old)

  • Head injury (loss of consciousness or extreme impact)

  • Migraine

  • Pneumonia (diagnosed and with worsening symptoms)

  • Poisoning

  • Seizure

  • Stomach pain (severe)

  • Swallowed object

  • Trouble breathing

Urgent Care

Urgent Care centers are a great option for minor illnesses and injuries. Children's Mercy urgent care providers care for children with conditions like:

  • Allergies

  • Asthma attack (minor)

  • Broken bone (not bent)

  • Bronchiolitis (without difficulty breathing)

  • Burn (minor)

  • Cold

  • Cough

  • Cut (minor)

  • Dehydration

  • Diarrhea

  • Dizziness

  • Earache and ear infection

  • Fever (children over 2 months old)

  • Headache

  • Head injury (no loss of consciousness, minor impact)

  • Insect or minor dog bite

  • Nausea/vomiting 

  • Pink eye

  • Rash

  • Sore throat

  • Sprain or strain

  • Stitches (from minor cut)

  • Stomach pain (mild)

  • Urinary tract (bladder/kidney) infection

Children's Mercy Urgent Care does not provide:

  • Routine physicals

  • Sports or work clearance exams

  • Reproductive health care

  • Foster care placement exams

  • Care for those beyond their 18th birthday

Please contact your child’s physician prior to seeking care at an urgent care center.

Children's Mercy Kansas City
Departments and Clinics
Emergency Room at Children's Mercy
When To Go: Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care