When to present to ED (or call an ambulance)

A lot of the time it can be very clear when you need to call an ambulance or present to ED such as for seizures, breathing issues, and severe illness but there is also a lot of gray area with some of our children and i know a lot of us do our best to avoid the “bugs” in hospital’s and unnecessary medical trauma.

Some tips and tricks we share for ED visits or ambulance trips are

• Always carry a recent hospital discharge or paperwork you have put together with your child's and family's details, medical history and recent medications, this can help the Paramedics and Doctors in an emergency allowing you to attend to your child.
• If relevant it's important to note any changes in the child's environment such as new support workers, EA’s at school, new bruising, new habits, loss of function etc.
• Always have an up to date height and weight this can be important for many reasons including if immediate medication is required in the ambulance.
• Back yourself, be confident in expressing your concerns and remember you know your child best and you are the expert on your child. If you noticed it, it's important!

Finally we discuss that the cost of calling an ambulance can be high so if you do have a child with a neurodisability or complex health needs, I do recommend looking into the ambulance cover available to you in your area such as through private health insurance, the ambulance provider, or the government.

This is something you can also discuss with a social worker at the hospital. Eliminating the cost stress associated with calling an ambulance can be really important when prioritising your child's health and safety.