We were at the ER last night, in fact. (Mel was having trouble breathing, but is doing fine now.) Our pedi’s after hours line is manned by a hospital call center. They called the hospital we were headed for and faxed them my daughter’s records. Since the ER knew we were coming, they saw us within 5 minutes of arrival.

I can’t stress enough the need for a fully equipped diaper bag. My girls are old enough now that we can make do with just a diaper or two and some wipes for most outings. I still keep a fully packed bag in the car for emergency room visits that may come up.

Also, bring BOOKS and TOYS. Interactive books are excellent at keeping your sick little one busy, and any healthy kids you have to drag along entertained. We have a little library in the car, just in case. Most hospitals will give toddlers stickers, but those can only entertain my kids for about an hour, and I’ve had a couple of 6-hour visits.

We’ve been to the ER twice as well. Once in an ambulance and one when we drove. These are GREAT tips! Like you, I have no idea what we would have done with the twin on the first trip (I had to bring younger kid with us because I was still nursing every 3 hours or so, and we had NO idea how long we’d be), and two kids on the second trip if family hadn’t been here both times!! I always figured it would be my son that we’d be bringing to the ER…nope. My daughter both times.

Great post.

I can’t stress enough to have a very well-packed diaper bag ready and waiting for an ER visit. Snacks, water, toys, lollipops, blankets, changes of clothes for both kids, change of clothes for yourself, even, if blood is involved, as it was for us. Change for soda machine. Important to have plenty for child that is not patient if he/she has to go along.

And, I might also add to double check with your pedi BEFORE AN ACCIDENT to find out what all they can handle at their office. One of my girls needed stitches and I knew it immediately; but wonder if our pedi could have handled that in a MUCH shorter time frame.

On the first trip to the ER, they admitted him to the hospital, so we were there overnight, until about 3:00pm the next day. Talk about not being prepared! We had a diaper bag, but it had the essentials for a few hours. It turned out ok because they kept all of us up all night running test (so he slept a lot of the day) and they wouldn’t let him eat, so formula wasn’t an issue, but it was a LONG night. My learning experience was to keep snacks and necessities for myself in the diaper bag! Even if it’s just a granola bar and eye glasses so you can take your contacts out! We were in an ER exam room for 5 hours while tests were being run and we were waiting with my son to be admitted. There was no food or coffee available until 7am or so in the morning (we got to the ER at about 11pm) and it was freezing COLD in the exam room.

During our second trip to the ER, we were more frantic because our son was having seizure like symptoms. We jumped in the car with him in my lap in the passenger seat. He was too out of it to even put in the carseat. We went to the closest hospital this time, which is where I had the twins, but I was not impressed by the ER. This was a “stand in line while they try to figure out the computer system” type of ER. There was no sense of urgency, so I had to create some urgency. So, this would be my advice after the second trip……If it is truly an emergency, make sure that they know it when you get there, even if you have to cause a little bit of a scene. Otherwise, you may stand at the end of the paperwork line until you’re eventually noticed.

Also, I definitely agree with taking a bag of goodies for the long waits! I also went through every item in my purse several times!

Great post. This isn’t something you want to have to plan for, but knowing what to expect can make it a much better experience.