Know where to go

As a parent, it can be hard to make a judgment call when your child is injured or sick. You don’t want to rush to the emergency department if it isn’t really an emergency and can wait for a doctor’s appointment. On the other hand, you don’t want to hesitate to get medical attention if your child needs treatment right away. As your children grow older, you’ll learn to trust yourself to decide when it’s an emergency that needs immediate help.

When your child is in need of emergency medical attention there are a few options: HANDLE IT AT HOME Many minor injuries and illnesses, including some cuts, scrapes and bruises, can be handled with home care and over-the-counter treatments. CALL YOUR LOCAL GP OR THE NETCARE 911 CALL CENTRE (082-911) If you’re unsure of the level of medical care your child needs, your GP or the Netcare 911 call centre can help you decide what steps to take and how. VISIT A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT An emergency department (ED) can be a good option for non-emergencies at night and on weekends when your GP may not be in the office. At these centres, you can usually get services like x-rays, stitches and care for minor injuries that aren’t life threatening yet require medical attention on the same day. Remember that all emergency departments are using a system (triage) to prioritise the management of patients, which may mean a waiting period prior to consultation. An ED can handle a wide variety of serious problems, such as severe bleeding, head trauma, breathing difficulties and dehydration. CALL 082-911 (NETCARE 911) FOR AN AMBULANCE Some situations are so serious that you need the help of trained emergency medical personnel on the way to the hospital. Examples include if your child: has been in a car accident, has a head or neck injury, drowning, has ingested too much medication and is now hard to rouse, or is not breathing or is turning blue. In these cases, dial 082-911 for an ambulance.