Natick Pediatrics, PC

Unless advised by your doctor, you should not take your child to the emergency room for the following reasons:

Fever
Ear pain/infection
Flu
Colds
Minor sprains
Nausea
Stomach pain
Headaches
Sore Throat

A common misconception these days is that children get the same type of care in a hospital emergency room as at their pediatrician's office. Unfortunately, this is not true. We've designed this page to outline for parents when it is appropriate to call 911, when to take your child directly to the emergency room, and when the call the pediatrician. Of course the final decision should be made by the parent.

Call 911 if your child

is not breathing or turning blue
has sudden unconsciousness or cannot be awakened
is having a seizure (convulsing)
has severe unstoppable bleeding

Go to the emergency department when your child has

severe breathing difficulty
multiple or serious injuries, including fractures (broken bones)
severe allergic reaction (swollen lips, swollen tongue, difficulty breathing)

Pediatric Emergency specialists are at MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham Campus, and at Newton-Wellesley Hospital from 12 noon to midnight.

Call Poison Control at 1-800-682-9211
If you believe your child may have eaten a poison or other toxic substance, you should first call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-682-9211.

Call Natick Pediatrics at (508) 655-9699
If you're not sure whether your child's condition is life threatening, please call our office to help determine whether emergency treatment is needed. Dr. Lindeman is on call after hours to answer your questions and address your concerns. Most seemingly emergency situations can usually be managed over the phone until our office opens in the morning!

Natick Pediatrics, PC
Medical Office Building
MetroWest Medical Center
Leonard Morse Campus
67 Union Street, Suite 305
South Natick, MA 01760

(508) 655-9699
(508) 655-2984 fax

Updated: 10/30/02