emergency medicine
Dayton Children’s pediatric emergency medicine experts are specially trained to care for your critically ill or injured child.
expert emergency care for kids
The emergency department staff at Dayton Children’s specializes in one thing: caring for critically ill and injured children. Their experience and training make them uniquely qualified to care for your child in a medical emergency.
Dayton Children’s is home to the region’s only Level 1 pediatric trauma center. With two convenient locations, you can rest assured that, regardless of the emergency, our team is ready to provide the highest quality care. Our team of pediatric emergency medicine physicians and nurses treats over 100,000 sick and injured kids every year. When a child needs care for a complex illness or injury, our team can consult with pediatric physicians from any one of 50+ subspecialty areas at Dayton Children’s.
why choose a pediatric emergency department?
Kids need special care because they react differently to sickness, injuries, and medicines than adults do. At Dayton Children’s, our emergency team – including doctors, nurses and other staff – is specially trained to treat children. Our pediatric emergency doctors are experts in taking care of kids and teens in emergencies.
Level 1 Trauma Program – pediatric trauma care you can trust
Dayton Children’s Hospital is proud to be the region’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), – the highest designation possible for trauma care. This means families can count on us to deliver expert, around-the-clock care for the most critically injured children.
Our trauma team includes pediatric surgeons and specialists in orthopedics, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine and more – ready within minutes of a child’s arrival. We meet over 300 rigorous ACS criteria, including rapid response times, ongoing education and published research that advances pediatric trauma care. From child-focused equipment and facilities to compassionate support from child life specialists and social workers, every detail is designed to help kids heal safely and comfortably.
surveyors comments
Some of the strengths the surveyors pointed out include:
- Excellent orthopedic and neurosurgical commitment to the trauma program
- Having a dedicated trauma social worker
- Outstanding external trauma education for nursing and emergency medical services
- Extensive partnerships with EMS and nursing schools
fast facts:
- 989 pediatric trauma patients in 2018
- On track to exceed 1,100 pediatric trauma patients in 2019
- Top cause of trauma – falls (but the trauma service cares for a significant number of children from car crashes, bike crashes, and child abuse)
- 53 level 1 pediatric trauma centers nationwide
- Dayton Children’s is the fourth level 1 pediatric trauma center in Ohio
- Ohio has a significant commitment to pediatric trauma, making up 8.5% of all pediatric trauma centers nationwide
when and where to choose care for kids
For serious injuries or illnesses, including difficulty breathing, swallowed objects, fractures and more, find care at one of our pediatric emergency departments locations. For mental health crisis care with no physical injury, find care at our mental health crisis center.
conditions treated
- Difficulty breathing
- Swallowed objects
- Severe stomach pain
- Major injuries
- Broken bones
- Fever greater than 100.4°F in infants younger than 3 months
- Major decrease in activity level
- Headache
- Asthma
- Concussion
- And more.
appointment needed?
No appointment is needed! We’re always open, 24/7/365. View current wait times and locations.
For non-life threatening illnesses and minor injuries like cuts/stitches, burns, head injury, and more, find care at our pediatric urgent care locations.
conditions treated
- Minor burns
- Minor head injury
- Minor cuts/stitches
- UTI (urinary tract infection)
- Minor injuries
- Vomiting without dehydration
- And more.
appointment needed?
No appointment is needed! Walk-ins are always welcome and you can save your spot online, 7 days a week, including evenings.
When your pediatrician isn’t available, find quick care at our Kids Express locations for minor illnesses and conditions like ear pain, cough, sore throat, rashes, pink eye and more – in person or virtual.
conditions treated
- Colds and coughs
- Ear infections
- Pink eye
- Rashes
- Mild fever
- Flu shot
- Sore throat
- And more.
appointment needed?
No appointment is needed! Walk-ins are always welcome and you can save your spot online, 7 days a week, including evenings.
video visits
Kids Express also offers video visits for certain conditions such as:
- allergies
- COVID concerns
- Pink eye
- Rashes
- Sore throat
- Vomiting and diarrhea
Talk to one of our pediatric nurse practitioners from the comfort of your home. If your child needs a prescription we can send it to your pharmacy of choice. Please note that the patient must be in the state of Ohio during the video visit. Save your spot for a video visit.
Use our symptom checker and additional resources to help you know when and where to choose care for your child.
symptom checker
cost and price transparency
resources for your visit
our emergency medicine specialists
Our pediatric emergency medicine team are experts in caring for children and teens in a medical emergency. Our physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing staff, radiology techs and others can handle any pediatric emergency. Working closely with pediatric specialists across the hospital, the team coordinates care during a child’s most vulnerable moments.
conditions we treat
not sure if your child needs to visit the emergency department?
Use our easy symptom checker to find out where your child should get care. Based on their symptoms, it will guide you to the best option – whether that’s the emergency department, your child’s primary care doctor, urgent care or a nearby Kids Express clinic. [CTA button] – view symptom checker
when should I visit an emergency department?
Take your child to the emergency department if they have:
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion, trouble waking up, or unusual sleepiness
- A deep cut that won’t stop bleeding
- A stiff neck with a fever
- A very fast heartbeat that won’t slow down
- Swallowed something poisonous or too much medicine
- A serious head injury
For other minor symptoms like the ones listed below, you might want to visit a Kids Express clinic (in person or online) or call your child’s doctor.
- Ear pain
- Pain in the abdomen (stomach)
- Headache that doesn’t go away
- Rash
- Mild wheezing
- Cough that won’t go away
When unsure, contact your doctor’s office – even if the doctor isn’t there, a nurse can help you decide if you need to go to the emergency department.
news and blogs
Stay up-to-date with the latest insights from Dayton Children’s Hospital. We’re always working to share helpful, real-world content for families navigating emergency medicine.
patient stories
A trip to the emergency department can be scary for both kids and parents. But, hearing from other families who have been through the same experience can bring comfort. These stories offer hope, guidance and reassurance that you’re not alone. No matter the reason for your visit, we’re here for your child and your family every step of the way.
Explore how Dayton Children’s emergency medicine care has gone above and beyond for kids just like yours.
for your emergency visit
If possible, please bring:
- Your child’s insurance card
- Your photo identification (such as a driver’s license)
- Your child’s social security number
- The name and phone number of your child’s primary care doctor
- A list of your child’s allergies and current medications
find more resources for your visit
Get checklists, resources, and helpful tips for before, during, and after your visit to Dayton Children’s—so you know exactly what to expect.
hours & locations – emergency medicine
- South campus Springboro
- Main campus
faqs
If possible, please bring:
- Your child’s insurance card
- Your photo identification (such as a driver’s license)
- Your child’s social security number
- The name and phone number of your child’s primary care doctor
- A list of your child’s allergies and current medications
Your teen is no longer a child… but not quite an adult. Their bodies and their minds are still growing! That is important to remember when an injury or illness strikes. Because when teens—even older teens—are hurting, they tend to regress, or behave younger than their age. At Dayton Children’s, our staff provides developmentally appropriate care in a setting where your teen will be among other kids, not sick and injured adults.
If your child was seen in a Dayton Children’s emergency department or urgent care center in the last 72 hours, you are welcome to call us at 937-641-3893 with any questions or concerns.
After your emergency department visit, you may receive a call from our outreach nurse. The nurse will:
- Ask you how your child is feeling, and if you have any concerns about his or her condition;
- Provide lab or X-ray results that became available after your emergency department visit;
- Make sure you were able to get the medication your child was prescribed in the emergency department;
- And ask if you have any questions or concerns about the instructions you received from the emergency department about how to care for your child at home.
You may receive multiple bills after your emergency department visit, depending on the services your child received. These may include a bill from the attending physician, radiology department, or ambulance company, for instance. If you have questions about your Dayton Children’s bill or would like to arrange a payment plan, please call our billing department at 937-641-3555 or send us an e-mail
If you have a question about a bill you receive from TEAMHealth, please contact that company directly at 888-952-6772 or visit their website TEAMHealth bills for provider services in the emergency department.
medical emergency?
If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. We’re always ready to provide expert care when you need it most.
Was your child seen in our emergency department in the last 72 hours? If so, please call our outreach nurse directly with any questions or concerns: 937-641-3893.
