Get Medical Help Immediately

For some conditions, you need to get medical help immediately. When this is necessary, and you can reach the parent without delay, tell the parent to come right away. You may also have to have the parent tell the doctor that you will be calling because you are with the child. If the parent or the child's doctor is not immediately available, contact the facility's health consultant or EMS for immediate medical help.

Tell the parent to come right away and get medical help immediately when any of the following things happen:

An infant under 4 months of age has an auxiliary temperature of 100 degrees F. or higher, or a rectal temperature of 101 degrees F. or higher.

A child over 4 months of age has a temperature of 105 degrees F. or higher.

Any child looks or acts very ill or seems to be getting worse quickly.

Any child has neck pain when the head is moved or touched.

Any child has a stiff neck or severe headache.

Any child has a seizure for the first time.

Any child acts unusually confused.

Any child has uneven pupils (black centers of the eyes).

Any child has a blood-red or purple rash made up of pinhead-sized spots or bruises that are not associated with injury.

Any child has a rash of hives or welts that appears quickly.

Any child breathes so fast or hard that s/he cannot play, talk, cry or drink.

Any child has a severe stomachache without vomiting or diarrhea after a recent injury, blow to the abdomen, or hard fall.

Any child has stools that are black or have blood mixed through them.

Any child has not urinated in more than 8 hours; the mouth and tongue look dry.

Any child has continuous clear drainage from the nose after a hard blow to the head.

Note for programs that provide care for sick children: If any of the conditions listed above appear after the child's care has been planned, medical advice must be obtained before continuing child care can be provided.

This page may be duplicated by individuals and entities for noncommercial purposes.

This page is copied with permission from the American Red Cross Child Care Course 1990.
For information about the course, telephone the local chapter of the American Red Cross or write to the American Red Cross, National Headquarters, Health and Safety, 18th and F Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006.

WCCIP • 2109 S. Stoughton Road, Madison WI 53716 • Ph 800.366.3556 • Fx 608.224.6178
These tip sheets developed by WCCIP, March 1998 with funding from the WI Dept. of WFD, Office of Child Care, and DHFS

Get Medical Help Immediately American Red Cross

Get Medical Help Immediately
American Red Cross