Responses to Injury or Illness

Call 911 NOW (your child may need an ambulance) IF:
Definition: Your child may have a life-threatening emergency

• Immediately call 911 or your Emergency Medical Response system.

Call Your Doctor NOW (night or day) IF your child has any ONE of the following: :
Definition: Your child may have a non-life-threatening emergency or urgent condition

• Call your child's doctor immediately.
• If you can't reach your doctor within 60 minutes, go to the nearest Intermountain KidsCare clinic or emergency department by automobile.
• If you don't have a personal doctor, go to the nearest Intermountain KidsCare clinic or emergency department by car NOW.

Call Your Doctor WITHIN 24 HOURS (during regular daytime office hours) IF:
Definition: Your child may have a non-urgent illness that may require a specific test (such as a throat culture) or an antibiotic (such as for an ear infection). You may need to be seen, but it can safely wait for up to 24 hours.

• If the office is open, call now.
• If the office is closed now, but will be open within 24 hours, call when it opens.
• If the office won't be open within the next 24 hours, call your doctor's answering service for assistance.
• If you don't have a personal doctor, go to the nearest Intermountain KidsCare or emergency department within the next 24 hours.

Call Your Doctor DURING WEEKDAY OFFICE HOURS IF:
Definition: Your child may have a nonurgent symptom or illness that has lasted longer than expected (such as a persistent cough or localized rash) but usually carries no risk of complications. You may need to be seen in the office but can safely wait a few days if it's the weekend or a holiday.

• If the office is open, call now.
• Otherwise, call during scheduled weekday office hours on Monday - Friday. (This category therefore excludes weekends and holidays.)
• If you don't have a doctor, choose a doctor and make an appointment to be seen within the next 3 days.

Provide Care at Home to children for:
Definition: Your child has a mild illness that's usually self-limited or harmless. This section's title is a link that will take you directly to the home care advice for that topic. Follow the detailed home care advice that's provided in each guideline.

• Your child can be safely cared for by you at home.
• Call your doctor if your child's condition becomes worse or if your child develops a symptom listed in ANY of the "Call Your Doctor" categories.