What is it a True Paediatric Emergency?

It can be difficult to stay calm when your child is in distress. If you are ever in doubt, it is always safer to seek medical attention. However, the following "Red Flag" symptoms require immediate emergency intervention:

1. Respiratory Distress (Difficulty Breathing)

If your child is struggling to breathe, look for these signs:

• Nasal Flaring: The nostrils widen significantly with every breath.
• Retractions: The skin "sucks in" around the ribs or at the base of the throat during inhalation.
• Wheezing or Grunting: Unusual sounds made while breathing.
• Cyanosis: A bluish or pale tint to the lips, tongue, or fingernails.

2. Altered Consciousness or Neurological Issues

• Seizures: Especially if it is the child's first seizure or if it lasts more than five minutes.
• Extreme Lethargy: If the child is unusually drowsy, difficult to wake up, or seems "floppy" and unresponsive.
• Severe Head Injury: Particularly if followed by vomiting, confusion, or a loss of consciousness.

3. Severe Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

• Sudden swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat.
• Hives accompanied by difficulty breathing or a rapid pulse.

4. Dehydration and High Fever

• Dehydration: If a child has persistent vomiting or diarrhea and shows signs like a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on the head, no tears when crying, or very few wet diapers.
• High Fever in Infants: Any fever over 100.4°F (38°C) in a baby under three months old is a medical emergency.

5. Severe Injuries and Poisoning

• Suspected broken bones (deformities or inability to move the limb).
• Deep cuts that won't stop bleeding with pressure.
• Accidental ingestion of chemicals, medications, or foreign objects (choking).

What to Do in an Emergency

1. Stay as Calm as Possible: Your child will take emotional cues from you. Staying calm helps you provide clearer information to the medical team.
2. Do Not Give Food or Drink: If surgery or a procedure is required, it is safer if the child has an empty stomach.
3. Bring Essential Information: If possible, grab your child’s Immunization Card, a list of any known allergies, and any medications they are currently taking.
4. Call Ahead if Possible: If you are on your way to Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, a quick call to our emergency line (0253-65-111-11) allows our paediatricians and nurses to prepare for your arrival.

Why Choose Specialized Paediatric Emergency Room?

Many parents naturally head to the nearest general hospital in an emergency. However, children benefit immensely from a dedicated paediatric environment.

• Child-Sized Equipment: From the smallest oxygen masks to tiny IV catheters and blood pressure cuffs, we have equipment specifically designed for newborns through teenagers.
• Paediatric Dosing Experts: Calculating medication dosages for children is a precise science based on weight. Our staff are experts in avoiding dosing errors.
• Specialized Infrastructure: If an emergency involves a newborn, they have immediate access to our Level III NICU.
• Child-Centric Compassion: Our team is trained not just to treat the injury, but to soothe the child’s fears and support the parents during a traumatic event.

Preparedness is Peace of Mind

While we hope you never need our emergency services, being prepared is the best way to protect your child. Keep our emergency contact number saved in your phone and ensure all caregivers know the quickest route to our hospital.

At Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, we are ready when you need us most, providing expert care for life's most urgent moments.