It always seems to happen at the worst time—your child gets sick or hurt when your doctor’s office is closed. So, what do you do? Should you go to the emergency room or urgent care?
Knowing where to go can help make sure your child gets the right care as soon as possible. It can also save you time and money.
What’s the difference?
Urgent care is for things that need attention today but aren’t life-threatening. These clinics often offer same-day care, shorter wait times and lower costs than the emergency room.
Emergency rooms (ERs) are for serious or life-threatening problems. If your child is in danger, call 9-1-1 or go to the ER right away.
When to go to the emergency room
Take your child to the ER if they have:
- Trouble breathing
- A broken bone that looks bent or twisted
- A deep cut that won’t stop bleeding
- A seizure
- A head injury with loss of consciousness
- A fever in a baby under 2 months
- Poisoning
- Severe stomach pain
- A serious burn
When to go to urgent care
Urgent care is a good choice for:
- Minor asthma attacks
- Ear infections
- Pink eye
- Sore throat
- Mild stomach pain
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Rashes
- Sprains or strains
- Minor cuts that may need repair
- Fevers in kids over 2 months
Why choose pediatric same-day care?
Whether you go to urgent care or the ER, it’s best to choose a place that specializes in kids. Pediatric clinics have specialty trained doctors and nurses to care for children. They also have kid-sized equipment and know how to help children feel safe and calm.
Children’s Mercy has 2 emergency rooms and 3 urgent care locations all made just for kids. This blog will walk you through what to expect during a pediatric emergency room visit. If you need an urgent care appointment, visit childrensmercy.org/savemyspot to choose your time and location.
Division Director, Urgent Care; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine; Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine