EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS
emergency instructions
call 911 immediately if your child:
> has stopped breathing or has severe difficulty breathing
> has skin and lips that look blue
> is having a seizure and you have not been told how to manage it at home
>
has lost consciousness / does not wake up when you try to wake them
call us immediately and drive to the ER if your child has:
(do not wait until the office opens)
- chills
- fever greater than or equal to 101.0 ℉ if immunocompromised (patients with cancer, on therapy, hardware, sickle cell disease, neutropenia, bone marrow failure syndromes, or if you have been instructed by your physician)
- trouble with breathing
- bleeding that does not stop within 5-10 minutes
- a change in behavior or level of consciousness
(such as being very sleepy, very irritable, or not making sense when talking) - a sudden change in vision
- a severe headache
- new weakness of the face, arm, or leg
- uncontrolled pain
- repeated vomiting or diarrhea
- the inability to drink fluids
- a break in the central line
- exposure to chickenpox or shingles
when visiting the emergency room (ER)
If you need to go to the Emergency Room, there are some things that the staff there will need to know:
- When you arrive in the ER, tell the health care provider that your child is being treated for cancer and cannot wait in an area with other children who may be sick, especially if your child’s blood counts are low.
- Tell the ER team what kind of cancer your child has, the date of the last treatment, and the results of the most recent blood counts.
- Make sure that the ER team knows that your child cannot have an enema, suppository, or rectal temperature.
- If your child has a fever, they should be seen right away.
- If you’re planning to use an ER that is not where your child receives their oncology care, ask your health care team for a letter that you can give to the ER team that explains your child’s diagnosis and potential needs in the emergency room.
