30 million

children 

will receive

emergency care

this year.

They can’t all belong to someone else.
Will one of these children be yours?

Emergencies happen. It could be a fall from a bike...

a sudden high fever or seizure...a pot knocked from 

the stove. What if your child started choking during dinner?

What if she was stung by a bee and suddenly couldn't

breathe? Would you know what to do?

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that an emergency

exists if you think your child could die or suffer permanent

harm unless care is received right away. Most parents feel they 

are prepared for emergencies because they know when and

how to call 9-1-1. But often, that isn’t enough. Your child may

need care before emergency medical service personnel arrive.

And being prepared can assure your child isn’t further harmed

by doing the wrong thing. We want to help you prepare,

because no matter how hard you try to protect your children–

emergencies happen.

The right care when it counts.
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Why emergency planning 

is important.

The first moments after an injury or onset of an illness are often the most critical. The key is remaining calm, knowing what to do, and

making a decision to act. Take a look at the following list of potential

emergencies, and ask yourself if you’d know what to do – or not to do – 

to help your child until emergency medical service personnel arrive:

■ Loss of consciousness

■ Seizure or convulsion

■ Choking on food, drink, or object

■ Serious fall 

■ Severe burn

■ Firearm wound

■ Suffocating

■ Difficulty breathing

■ Drowning

■ Eating or drinking something poisonous

■ Heavy bleeding that will not stop

■ Injury from a car or bike crash

■ High fever

■ Diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 24 hours

If you’re like most parents, you would feel comfortable handling some, but

not all, of these emergencies. That’s why having a written plan is so important.

If and when emergencies happen, you’ll know who to call, what information

you need, where to go, and what to ask. After reading this brochure, talk 

to your pediatrician or health care provider to decide what’s best for your

family. Learn what resources are available in your community. Then, use the

plan in the back of this guide. Your pediatrician or health care provider

can help you customize it to assure your family is well protected. If your child

has a serious health problem, you may want to use the American Academy of

Pediatrics’ detailed Emergency Information Form at www.aap.org.
Writing down important 

information can help save 

your child’s life.

What if you and your child were in a car crash and you couldn’tspeak? What if your child got sick in day care and you couldn’t be

reached right away? Emergency medical personnel are going to have

questions, and someone has to be able to find answers – fast. 

That’s why it’s so important to have information about your children written

down. In the back of this brochure, you’ll find an easy-to-use emergency

plan. After you complete it, here’s what to do:

■ Put your emergency plan on the refrigerator

■ Put a copy by every phone in your house

■ Give a copy to day care providers, relatives, and babysitters

■ Give a copy to the school nurse

■ Give a copy to neighbors, friends, and coworkers

■ Put a copy in your purse, glove compartment, and child’s backpack

■ Send a copy to your local fire/EMS department

The more people who have this information, the better off your child will

be in an emergency.

Ten ways to be better prepared.

1. CHECK IF 9-1-1 IS THE RIGHT NUMBER TO CALL. Some areas of the

country do not have 9-1-1. Others have E-9-1-1 where your address is

automatically stored in a database. Make sure you know what’s available

where you live and work.

2. KEEP A WELL-STOCKED FIRST-AID KIT ON HAND. From minor cuts

and bruises to sunburn and sprains, a good first-aid kit is a great first line

of defense. To learn what makes a good first-aid kit, contact your health

care provider, local pharmacy, or the American Red Cross.

2
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3. MAKE A LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS. Write down the

numbers you need in the emergency plan in the back of this brochure.

4. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WHO TO CALL AND WHAT TO SAY.

Make sure your children know where the phone numbers are for 

emergency help and poison control. If they call 9-1-1, the operator will

ask, “Fire, Police, or Ambulance/Rescue?” Tell your child to stay on the

line while the call is transferred. When the appropriate agency picks up,

the emergency operator will ask for name, address, telephone number,

and details. He or she will want to know what has happened, when it

happened, where it happened, and who is involved. Teach your child not

to hang up unless told to do so. The emergency operator may be able 

to offer help over the phone.

5. MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE NUMBER IS VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.

Make it easy for police, fire officials, or emergency medical personnel to

find your house. Put large house numbers in a highly visible area. Make

sure the numbers are well-lit and can be seen at night. Make sure they

can be seen from the street in either direction. 

6. KEEP A CLEAR AND UP-TO-DATE RECORD OF IMMUNIZATIONS.

This can help doctors do a better job of diagnosing a problem in an 

emergency. For example, if your child has a bad infection, and the 

doctor knows your child has been vaccinated against Hepatitis, the doctor

can rule that out. This can save time.

7. WRITE DOWN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, MEDICATIONS, AND

DOSAGES. The emergency plan in the back of this brochure has space

for you to write this information down. Being prepared in advance can

help assure proper treatment and prevent serious drug interactions. 

8. MAKE A LIST OF ALLERGIES AND REACTIONS. The emergency plan

also includes a place to write this information down. It will help ensure

that health care professionals don’t use medicines that can hurt your

child. And, it might help emergency medical personnel find a reason for

problems such as seizures or shortness of breath. If any of your children

have severe drug allergies or chronic conditions, we recommend they

wear Medical I.D. bracelets.
4

9. IF YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY

COVERAGE. Check your policy in advance. Some insurance companies

require that you call first for approval. Make sure you understand your

policy, and carry all necessary cards and phone numbers with you. 

10. TAKE FIRST-AID CLASSES. A basic class will teach CPR and proper

ways to treat burns, wrap sprains, apply splints, and perform the Heimlich

maneuver. Remember, if you take time now, you won’t lose precious time

when your child’s life could depend on it. It’s a good idea to ask everyone

who takes care of your children to take these classes, including babysitters,

relatives, and day care providers. Your pediatrician, local hospital, fire

department, and local chapter of the Red Cross can tell you about classes.

Ten steps to take in an emergency.

1. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY. Most people say they will call 9-1-1 when

faced with a real emergency, but sometimes they don’t. Why? They may

not want to “bother” anyone, or they’re worried that the situation isn’t

really an emergency. Instead, they call their pediatrician, the emergency

room, or some other health care professional. You should know that the

time spent waiting for a doctor to return your call could make a big 

difference to your child’s life. Advice given over the phone is not always

correct. The fact is, no one can tell what’s wrong without first seeing the

patient. That’s why it’s important to get your child in front of a health

care professional as soon as possible. We recommend that you don’t

drive to the hospital yourself unless you really have to. If you must drive,

choose a hospital that serves children, if possible. Remember, it’s usually

faster, safer, and smarter to call 9-1-1.

2. CALL POISON CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. A poison can hurt your child

if he or she swallows it, breathes it in, or splashes it on the skin or in the

eyes. Get expert help by calling the Poison Control Center right away.

The number is 1-800-222-1222, 24 hours a day.

3. IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, 

DO NOT MOVE YOUR CHILD. In a case such as a car crash or a really
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bad fall, moving your child could result in permanent injury. Unless your

child is in further danger, keep him or her warm, still, and awake, if 

possible, until help arrives. 

4. KNOW HOW TO TREAT YOUR CHILD IN CASE OF A BURN. For

minor burns without blisters, soak the burned area in cold water until the

pain is gone. DO NOT use ice, butter, petroleum jelly, or other home cures.

For burns with blisters, call your doctor right away. For large and/or deep

burns, call 9-1-1. Keep your child warm and still until help arrives.

5. BE PREPARED IF YOUR CHILD HAS A SEIZURE. If your child is not

breathing, begin rescue breathing and have somebody call 9-1-1. If you

don’t know how to perform rescue breathing, the emergency operator

can tell you what to do. If your child is breathing, turn your child on his

or her side. Help protect your child from further harm by moving objects

out of the way. DO NOT prop up your child’s head or put anything in

your child’s mouth.

6. KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS BLEEDING. For really bad

wounds or spurting blood, call 9-1-1 right away. Have your child lie down

and apply firm, direct pressure to the wound. If the pad becomes

soaked, put another one on top of it. DO NOT use tourniquets. If possible,

raise the wound higher than your child’s heart.

7. KNOW HOW TO HELP A CHILD WITH A BROKEN BONE. Call 9-1-1

immediately. Try to keep the injured limb from moving. Apply cold 

compresses to minimize swelling (NOT ICE). If a bone is sticking out from

the skin, cover it with a large bandage, but DO NOT try to push it back

in. If there is a lot of bleeding, use direct pressure around the area. DO

NOT try to move your child unless he or she is in immediate danger.

8. DO NOT ADMINISTER THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER OR CPR UNLESS

YOU ARE TRAINED. Call 9-1-1 right away. The emergency operator can

tell you how to help your child until help arrives.

9. HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN ON HAND. Be prepared to give 

emergency medical personnel important information. Use the emergency

plan included in this brochure to write down everything you will need.
10. MAKE IT EASY FOR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO FIND YOU.

Turn on all the lights in your house. Have someone wait outside, 

if possible, to show fire, police, or emergency medical personnel where

your child is.

Be prepared.

We hope you will keep this brochure handy as a quick reference incase of an emergency. We urge you to complete the emergency plan

included here. Ask your pediatrician or health care provider to help you

complete a plan for each of your children. If your child has a serious health

problem, you may want to use the American Academy of Pediatrics’ detailed

Emergency Information Form at www.aap.org. If you would like to learn

more about being prepared, please visit our website at www.ems-c.org.

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MY EMERGENCY PLAN

Put this on your refrigerator. Put a copy by every phone in your house.

Give a copy to day care providers, relatives, and babysitters. Give a copy to

the school nurse and the local fire/EMS department. Give a copy to neighbors,

friends, and coworkers. Put a copy in your purse, glove compartment, and

child’s backpack. 

Where I Can Be Reached

Mother’s Name ______________________________________________________________

Father’s Name ________________________________________________________________

Home Address __________________________________________________________________

Home Phone __________________________________________________________________

Mother’s Work Address __________________________________________________________

Mother’s Work Phone __________________________ Cell Phone/Pager__________________

Father’s Work Address __________________________________________________________

Father’s Work Phone __________________________ Cell Phone/Pager__________________

Numbers Of People I Can Call

Emergency____________________________________________________________________

Poison Control __________________________________________________________________________________

Fire ________________________________________ Police ____________________________

Ambulance/Rescue ______________________________________________________________

Pediatrician/Primary Care Physician ______________________________________________

Local Hospital/Urgent Care Center________________________________________________

Reliable Neighbor______________________________________________________________

Nearest Relative ______________________________________________________________

Other Things I Might Need

Closest Emergency Care Center__________________________________________________

Insurance Plan Provider and Policy Number ________________________________________

✃Any Poisons in the Home ______________________________________________________
About My Child

(Please photocopy if you have additional children.)

Name ______________________________________________ Nickname ________________

Birth Date________________________ Height ______________ Weight ___________________

Any Allergies?________________________________________________________________

Any Medical Conditions?______________________________________________________

Any Medications/Doses? ______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Date of Last Tetanus Shot?______________________________________________________

Age-Appropriate Immunizations Up To Date?____________________________________

Any Hospitalizations?____________________ When?______________________________

Why?__________________________________________________________________________

Glasses or Contacts? ____________________ Orthodontics or Dentures?____________

Place 

child’s photo 

here.

111 Michigan Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20010