More than half of visits to the emergency room are for non-emergencies. How do parents know when to bring their child to a pediatric urgent care clinic or a pediatric emergency room?  This guide can help.

Urgent Care Clinic

• Flu/COVID-19 Test

• Allergic reaction

• Asthma

• Cough, cold or congestion

• Ear pain

• Fever in infants older than 8 weeks

• Minor burn

• Minor injury

• Pink eye

• Rash

• Simple laceration

• Skin infection

• Sore throat

• Sprain and strain

• Urinary tract infection

• Vomiting and diarrhea

Emergency Center

• Bleeding that won’t stop

• Extensive or complicated cuts or lacerations

• Fainting or head injury with loss of consciousness or disorientation

• Loss or change of vision

• Major fracture that breaks the skin or is at a severe angle

• Seizures without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy

• Serious burns

• Snake bites

• Spinal injuries

• Sudden change in mental state

• Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Vomiting or coughing up blood

Any conditions which threaten a child’s life or limb should be treated at a pediatric emergency center, which can also provide initial stabilization for severely injured pediatric patients.