When to Go to an Emergency Room (ER) or Urgent Care

In a life-threatening emergency, call 911. When your child gets unexpectedly sick or hurt, you may not know where to go to get the most appropriate medical treatment for the symptoms your child is experiencing. We have developed this guide to help direct you to the most appropriate and cost-effective facility that can best treat your child. When to go to an ER Burns Difficulty breathing Fever under 3 months of age (over 100.4 °F) Head injury with vomiting and/or loss of consciousness or change in behavior Poisoning (after contacting poison control at 1.800.222.1222) Potential broken bones Seizures Severe and/or persistent abdominal pain Severe allergic reactions Severe bleeding or serious cuts Vomiting and/or diarrhea with dehydration When urgent care and doctors' offices are closed Inova Children's ER Locations When to Go to an Urgent Care Conjunctivitis ("pink eye") Coughs and sore throat Foreign object in ear or nose Mild allergic reactions Minor burns Minor cuts or lacerations Minor illness or injury Sprains or possible broken bones When doctors’ offices are closed* Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care locations