When Your Child Has an Emergency Emergency care of children in America is better today than ever before. More than 30 million children each year receive acute and life-saving care in the nation's emergency departments. Today, emergency departments are staffed by emergency specialists who provide the highest levels of care to patients of all ages.
Nothing is more terrifying to parents than when their child has a medical emergency.
The most important things a parent can do to protect the health of his or her child is to provide good care and practice injury prevention. Injuries are the leading cause of death and permanent disability among children under age 14. The most common injuries are those related to motor vehicles, drowning, fire and burns, suffocation, choking, unintentional firearm injuries, falls, and poisonings. If your child has a pediatrician or family physician, you've already taken the first step in preventing a medical emergency by providing preventative care and treating minor illnesses before they become serious. Immunize children to protect them from serious diseases.