Emergency departments can be busy and sometimes, to avoid long unnecessary waits, your child’s illness could best be treated at a doctor's office, a walk-in clinic or an Urgent Primary Care Centre. If your child is not seriously ill, contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 for immediate health advice.
Take your child to the emergency department if they have:
- a persistent high fever for more than four days
- excessive coughing, especially with a fever
- an injured limb that looks swollen or crooked
- not urinated within 12 hours and have stopped drinking fluids
- blue lips and skin that appears pale
- trouble breathing, especially with rapid or laboured breathing patterns
- excessive vomiting, particularly if it is bright green or there is blood in the vomit
- ingested a toxic chemical, including a suspected drug or alcohol overdose
Watch out for head injuries and bring your child to emergency if they have:
- fallen more than five feet or 1.5 metres
- started vomiting after a head injury
- a visible bump after a head injury and the child is less than three months old
- lost consciousness
Mental Health emergency:
- If your child is thinking about or trying to end their life, get urgent help by calling 9-1-1 or 1-800-SUICIDE.
App to access doctors:
https://www.telus.com/en/bc/health/personal/babylon
Regular app hours (holidays may affect these times):
- Monday-Friday: 8am-9pm
- Saturday: 8am-6pm
- Sunday: 8am-4pm
