Your child is obviously in pain. You know you have to rush to the emergency room, but questions race through your mind. Will the doctor know how to treat a child? Is the children's hospital across town better than the nearest hospital?
Relax. The American College of Emergency Physicians says all emergency-room doctors are trained to treat children. It's important to get your child to the nearest hospital so treatment can begin. A doctor may then decide your child needs to go to a specialty center.
The organization says the most important steps parents can take to protect children are preventive. Make sure your child always wears a seatbelt when in a car and a helmet when biking.
The college also urges parents to know the early signs of childhood illnesses so they can be treated before they become emergencies.