What to expect when you’re at the emergency department

Going to the emergency department with your child is full of unknowns. But did you know we have an infographic that can help?

The emergency department, or ED, is a place where people go for immediate care. Visiting the ED can be scary and overwhelming, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Working with parents and healthcare providers, we made an infographic to help reduce stress and help parents prepare.

Our infographic is now available in three languages

English

What to expect at the emergency department

Ukrainian

Що очікувати у відділенні екстреної допомоги (ЕД), якщо дитина захворіла або травмувалася

Russian

К чему готовиться при получении экстренной медицинской помощи при травмах и заболеваниях у детей

What happens when you take your child to the ED?

It is no secret that going to the emergency department can be stressful and traumatic for you and your child. We know that going to the ED involves some prep, usually long wait times, and sometimes leads to a hospital admission. It’s important to remember that every ED is different, and every family will have a different experience. Each visit to the ED, even if it’s with the same child, might be different.

Here’s a brief summary of the steps that are usually involved in a visit to the ED.

Step 1: Triage

When you walk through the doors of an emergency department, you will see a waiting room, triage station and a registration area. Your first stop will be at the triage station. This will help the nurse understand how sick your child is.

Step 2: Registration

Your child must be registered before they can receive care.

Step 3: Waiting Room

The amount of time you wait to see a health care provider usually depends on your child’s symptoms. Usually a child with more severe symptoms will be seen first.

Step 4: Seeing a healthcare provider

Your child’s name will be called when a healthcare provider is ready to see them. You and your child will be brought to a room where your child will be assessed.

Want to find out more?

Check out our infographic to learn more about each step involved in a visit to the emergency department. You can also visit our website to learn more about common childhood symptoms and illnesses, how you can manage them at home, and when to get help.