Children’s Emergency Department – Hamilton Health Sciences

The McMaster Children’s Hospital emergency department is staffed by health care providers who are experts in pediatric emergency care. We assess and treat medical issues ranging from minor illnesses and injuries to life-threatening conditions. We treat patients with infections, difficulty breathing, injuries, mental health concerns, seizures, allergic reactions, tummy pain and many other conditions.

Our team is equipped to perform a wide range of procedures, such as:

• Setting broken bones or dislocated joints
• Stitching minor and major cuts
• Sedation
• Lifesaving procedures, such as intubation and resuscitation

We also provide our expertise to family doctors and other health centres in our region.

In the children’s emergency department, you may meet many different team members, including: emergency doctors and nurses, pharmacists, child life specialists, respiratory therapists, social workers, business clerks, and environmental aides.

Reasons to come to the children’s emergency department:

• Allergic Reaction or Anaphylaxis (swollen throat and can’t breathe) – if your child has an EpiPen, use it and come to emergency. If you don’t have an EpiPen, call 911.
• Experiencing a fever under one of these circumstances:
  • Baby less than 3 months old
  • Child with complex medical issues
  • Child with immune system problems
  • If lethargic, even after giving fever medication
  • Severe headache or neck pain with fever
• Trouble breathing that doesn’t improve with fever medications or your child’s puffers
• Vomiting or diarrhea in a baby less than 3 months old, bloody diarrhea, dehydration (no pee for 8 hours), green vomit, a lot of stomach pain outside of vomiting or diarrhea
• Weakness, confusion or sudden change in mental status or alertness
• Injuries:
  • Injured arm or leg that looks crooked, deformed or dislocated
  • A fall with pain the neck, chest or stomach
  • A burn that is blistering
  • Head injury with extreme tiredness, loss of consciousness, and/or repeated vomiting
  • Cuts that won’t stop bleeding or that are deep or big that might need stitches
  • Eye injuries
• Poisoning or drug overdose – if your child is acting normally, try calling Ontario Poison Control first at 1-800-268-9017
• Seizure, loss of consciousness
• Suicidal with a plan or attempt
• Drowning and/or choking with trouble breathing afterwards

You know your child best. Please use your judgment and discretion. Call Health Connect Ontario at 811 if you are unsure if you should come.