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There are a lot of things that an ER can and can not do for you. Here are a couple of things that you should know: most ER's function to triage patients. That means that the doctors who work there are experts on deciding who needs to be admitted to the hosptial immediately (someone who has been in a car crash and is unconcious), who needs treatment for a couple of hours (someone with an asthma attack), and someone who can see their regular doctor when the office is open (a lot of kids with some types of fractures). Here are a couple of simple rules to live by: If the skin is broken and the bones are sticking out -- GO TO THE ER If the hand or foot is white and does not seem warm, or it is numb -- GO TO THE ER If the arm of leg is obviously bent (this can be hard to tell in the elbow) -- GO TO THE ER If your child seems basically OK, if the skin is intact, if the hand or foot is warm, has normal sensation, and a good pulse, and if the arm or leg looks straight, you may decide to wait and see your doctor when you can. No matter what, if you go to the ER, DO NOT EAT ON THE WAY. If the fracture needs to be straightened out, the patient has to be NPO (which is doctor talk for nothing by mouth) for 3 to 6 hours, depending upon age, prior to the procedure. |
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