As parents and caregivers, we always want to be prepared when it comes to emergency situations. We like to keep our first aid kits stocked and make sure we know the procedures for any life-threatening emergencies. To help in this preparation, we recently connected with Dr. Kara Kowalczyk, pediatric emergency medicine specialist with Riley Children’s Health. She answered our questions about the most common pediatric emergencies, how to prevent these emergencies, and she also gave us an update on the Riley Children’s emergency department expansion at IU Health North Hospital.
What should I do in a life-threatening situation involving my child? When do I take my child to the emergency room?
Dr. Kowalczyk first gave the most important advice any parent or caregiver should know. “If you are concerned your child has a life-threatening emergency, call 911.” She continued by saying, “Times you should bring your child to the ER and skip urgent care include trouble breathing, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), severe abdominal pain, severe headache, neck stiffness, head injuries, severe dehydration, large or deep burns, large or deep cuts, broken bones with arm/leg deformity or visible bone, or a fever in a child two months or less.”
What are the most common pediatric emergencies? How can parents/caregivers prevent emergencies?
The most common cause of injuries in children occur from falls, says Dr. Kowalczyk, as well as motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Firearms are now the leading cause of death for US children and teens under the age of 18.
- Burns: Many burns happen from accidental hot water spills when parents are making instant noodle dishes made in the microwave. Dr. Kowalczyk says to keep kids away from hot water when cooking. Water heaters should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
- Water safety: Never leave a child in the bathtub alone, even for a moment, says Dr. Kowalczyk. Children should always be supervised while swimming. Toddlers, infants and poor swimmers need to be within arms reach of an adult when swimming. There should be an identified watcher while any children are swimming, and the adult should be watching without any sort of distraction or alcohol use. The adult responsible for watching the children swimming should know how to recognize the signs of drowning, know how to initiate CPR, and how to call for help. Install proper fencing and gates around pools. Swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning but are not drown proof.
- Medications: Dr. Kowalczyk says to store all medications out of reach of children. Be mindful of medications in your purse or other caregivers’ purses. Many medications, including heart and diabetes medications, can be very dangerous to kids even in small doses. The ER staff at Riley Children’s are also seeing a significant increase in Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) poisoning in young children. These products are often packaged to look like candy and other snacks which increases the risk of accidental ingestion.
- Guns: Guns in the home should be locked and unloaded with ammunition locked separately. Children as young as three years old can be strong enough to pull the trigger on a gun so it is important to keep guns out of reach. Also keep guns locked away from older children as access to guns increases the risk of a lethal suicide attempts with those in crisis.
- Car seats and booster seats: Dr. Kowalczyk says following car seat and booster seat guidelines are essential in preventing serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents, highly recommending the following precautions:
- Rear-facing car safety seats as long as possible.
- Forward-facing car safety seats from the time they outgrow rear-facing seats for most children through at least four years of age.
- Belt-positioning booster seats from the time they outgrow forward-facing seats for most children through at least eight years of age.
- Lap and shoulder seat belts for all who have outgrown booster seats.
- All children younger than 13 years to ride in the rear seats of vehicles.
- Helmets: Always have your child wear a helmet when riding bikes, scooters, or other motorized vehicles. The ER staff at Riley Children’s sees a lot of broken bones from kids falling off scooters, hoover boards, etc. It is difficult to prevent broken bones when you fall off one of these, but it is essential to protect the head, says Dr. Kowalczyk.
Are there any emergency training courses or resources available to parents or family members such as CPR classes?
Dr. Kowalczyk recommends all parents get CPR trained. “The best predictive factor for good outcomes in kids with a cardiac arrest that occurs outside of the hospital is early bystander CPR,” she says. IU Health provides CPR classes that you can register for online. You can also check out the American Red Cross website for a schedule of first aid and CPR classes.
What are the most important items that parents/caregivers can stock in their first aid kits at home?
Tell us about Riley Children’s latest news about pediatric emergency services at IU Health North.
About Kara Kowalczyk, MD
Dr. Kowalczyk is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Riley Children’s Health. She completed both her pediatric residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at IU School of Medicine. She has an academic interest in improving disaster care for children. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their golden retriever, traveling, and hiking.
Riley Children’s Health makes it possible for families throughout Indiana to get the highest level of care. Whether your child needs primary care for routine health and wellness, or specialty care for acute or complex conditions, you can depend on Riley Children’s for best-in-class care close to home.
