Accidents happen. Your kids get hurt and your first instinct is to rush them to the emergency room to get an x-ray, but it can actually be more beneficial to hold off on the trip to the ER.
Experts say to, instead, schedule them an appointment with an orthopedic physician. They say this will actually save you money in the long run.
"Emergency physicians are busy with emergencies. An ankle sprain or elbow pain are not emergencies," says Palmetto Health USC Athletic Trainer, Jane Steinberg.
She says the loss of motion and swelling are two signs your child needs to see a physician, not visit the emergency room.
Here are some signs that your child needs immediate medical attention:
- Anything is visibly twisted, broken or sticking out of the skin
- Cuts that may need stitches
- Excessive bleeding
Dr. Mark Locke says ones of the best ways to decide if your child needs to see a physician is to see how they feel the morning after the injury.
"If they have pain at the end of an activity, it may just be activity related. But by the next day, the kids are so young, their bodies recover quickly. So symptoms in the morning of swelling or bruising is a bad sign. Don't use the emergency room to just get an x-ray."