Emergency Centers Designed for Children
Pediatric Emergency Rooms
ERs right-sized for your child and built for fast, specialized care
CHRISTUS Children’s ERs are built for your children, with child-sized medical equipment and pediatric experts trained to address your child's emotional and physical needs.
When you visit our pediatric ER, you receive care at a fully specialized medical facility designed for infants, children, and adolescents.
The ER is staffed with experts who treat pediatric emergencies every day. When your child needs emergency care, you want care that is specifically designed for your child.
Why CHRISTUS Children’s ERs are different
Children respond to illness and injury differently from adults. They can maintain normal vital signs for longer when they are sick. However, when a child’s condition declines, it often happens rapidly.
Additionally, children can't always explain what hurts or where they feel pain. They also don’t like getting their blood drawn or being seen by a doctor.
CHRISTUS Children's is prepared to care for your child and works to ensure your child can get the best care possible by:
- accessing advanced specialists 24/7
- offering an environment and aesthetics tailored towards kids
- providing medical equipment sized for kids
- providing professional medical staff with extensive pediatric training
Pediatric ERs
When to choose the pediatric ER
If you are wondering if you should take your child to the ER, you are not alone. Many parents with newborns and toddlers often struggle with this question. Below are general guidelines to help you make a better decision. But it is always best to trust your parental intuition. If you think or feel like you need to go to the ER, go right away.
Breathing Problems
- Wheezing
- Grunting
- Lips or face turning blue
- Retractions at ribs or neck
- Fast or labored breathing
Fever
- If your baby is younger than 60 days old and has any fever, go to the ER.
- Fever with lethargy, poor feeding, or dehydration.
- Fever accompanied by concerning symptoms, such as unusual sleepiness or irritability.
Neurological Changes
- Unresponsiveness
- Seizures
- Confusion or altered behavior
Serious Illness or Injury
- Dehydration
- Concussion
- Deep cuts or severe bleeding
- Broken bones
- Abdominal pain / suspected appendicitis
- Poison ingestion
The difference between ER and Urgent Care
Know When to Take Your Kid to the ER vs. Urgent Care
Emergencies can strike anyone at any time. But sometimes it can be hard to know what ailment is worthy of a trip to the emergency room vs. an urgent care center. Make an informed decision on the differences between Er and urgent care.
Managing High Risk Fever in Infants
Babies younger than 2 months with a fever need to go to the ER.
A severe infection might only show symptoms of a mild fever in an infant. Since infants can't fight infections like older children, this could be a sign of something more serious. Babies 0–60 days old should always be checked for a fever.
What pediatric ERs do for young infants with fever:
- Follow rigorous, standardized fever in infant protocols
- Perform recommended diagnostic tests to catch bacterial infections early
- Recognize subtle clinical signs newborns often show before vitals change
- Begin treatment quickly, including antibiotics when necessary
Access to Advanced Neonatal Intensive Care
Some emergencies require care that only a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can provide.
If your newborn is critically ill, premature, or experiencing complications, CHRISTUS Health provides access to advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across our system, including Level IV NICUs — the highest level of neonatal care available.
What a Level IV NICU provides for newborns in emergencies:
- 24/7 neonatal specialists trained to care for premature and critically ill infants
- Rapid diagnostic testing for newborn complications and infections
- Continuous monitoring and treatment for fragile organs and developing systems
- Family-centered care, including parent involvement and support every step of the way
Life-Saving Equipment for Children of All Sizes
Everything in a pediatric ER is designed for a child’s safety, down to the millimeter.
Tools right-sized for infants through teens of all sizes
- Pediatric blood pressure cuffs, from newborn to adolescent sizes
- Child-sized IVs, catheters, splints, and surgical tools
- Pediatric ECG pads and airway equipment
- Infant-safe thermometers and temperature methods
Advanced Pediatric Monitoring
- Pediatric cardiac monitoring
- Oxygen saturation calibrated for newborn ranges
- Infant-safe imaging protocols with lower radiation exposure
Specialized Staff for Children of All Ages
Our children’s ERs are structured and equipped exclusively for kids with pediatric-trained staff:
Pediatric emergency physicians
- Completed three years of pediatric residency
- Followed by three years of pediatric emergency medicine fellowship
- Expert in newborn, infant, child, and adolescent emergencies
Pediatric Nurses
- Trained in pediatric physiology
- Skilled at recognizing sick infants
- Specialists in child-specific resuscitation, subtle breathing cues, and early deterioration signs
Access to specialists 24/7 through CHRISTUS Children's
- Pediatric Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology (GI)
- Endocrinology (DKA emergencies)
- Nephrology
- ENT
- Neonatology
FAQ about Pediatric ERs at CHRISTUS
Our pediatric ER is equipped with medical tools designed specifically for children of every age—from premature newborns to teenagers. This includes:
- Multiple blood pressure cuff sizes for tiny infant arms up to larger adolescents
- Pediatric-sized IVs, needles, splints, casts, and airway tools
- Infant safe thermometers and temperature methods
- Scales and monitors calibrated for pediatric vital signs
- Child-specific respiratory equipment, including nebulizers, oxygen masks, and intubation tools
- Imaging settings that use lower radiation doses for growing bodies
Pediatric nurses are trained to interpret subtle signs in non verbal or pre verbal children. They assess:
- Breathing patterns, including retractions or noisy breathing
- Color changes around the lips, face, or fingertips • Tone, responsiveness, and general alertness
- Feeding patterns and hydration
- Parent reported behavior changes
- How the child moves, cries, or responds to comfort
These cues help the team identify early signs of infection, breathing trouble, dehydration, or neurological issues.
Yes. Pediatric ER physicians can quickly consult or coordinate with subspecialists.
- Pediatric surgeons
- Orthopedic surgeons
- Neurologists & neurosurgeons
- Cardiologists
- Gastroenterologists (GI)
- Endocrinologists (for diabetes emergencies)
- Nephrologists
- ENT specialists
- Neonatologists for newborn emergencies
This access ensures faster diagnosis and treatment without dangerous delays or transfers.
Not all freestanding EDs are designed for kids. However, CHRISTUS Children's freestanding pediatric ERs are intentionally designed with children in mind:
- Bright, welcoming colors and artwork
- Softer lighting that reduces anxiety
- TVs, toys, and child-friendly distractions
- Pediatric-trained triage and nursing teams
- Broken bones and sprains (including initial stabilization of growth plate injuries)
- Deep cuts, wounds, and laceration repair
- X rays, ultrasounds, and advanced imaging (MRI/CT when appropriate)
- Lab work for infections, dehydration, or metabolic issues
- Breathing problems, including asthma or RSV
- Concussions and head injuries. If a child needs surgery or advanced inpatient care, the team arranges a smooth, fast transfer to CHRISTUS Children’s.
Parents can expect:
- Fast check in and triage tailored to children
- A calming, kid friendly environment
- Frequent communication from the care team
- Age appropriate testing and treatment
- Clear explanations and updates throughout your visit
- Support for both your child and your family
Prepare for Your ER Visit
When you come to the ER, it's important to have a good handle on your child's symptoms. It's also important to know your child's medical history — allergies, past illnesses, injuries, surgeries, immunization history, or chronic conditions.
Even if you know the medical history by heart, consider writing it down so it's handy during the chaos of an emergency. And keeping a written record readily available at home will let anyone caring for your child — such as a babysitter — provide it should your child be taken to the ER.
To prepare a medical history, include:
- Medications your child is taking
- Allergies
- History of previous hospitalizations
- Any previous surgeries
- Illnesses
- Relevant family history
- Immunization history
You also might be asked when your child last had anything to eat or drink. You should know the name and number of your child's primary care provider. And it's good to know the name and number of the pharmacy where you usually get your prescriptions filled.
If you come to the ER because your child has ingested a particular medication or household product, bring the container of whatever was ingested. That will help the doctors understand what kind of treatment is required. If your child has swallowed an object, bring an example of that object, if possible. If you think there's a chance that your child might have to be admitted to the hospital, you may want to grab a change of clothes and toothbrushes for you and your child.
What to Expect During Your Child's ER Visit
Upon arrival, a pediatric triage nurse will quickly assess your child’s symptoms to determine the level of urgency. Children with potentially life-threatening conditions receive immediate care. All other patients are seen in order of clinical priority as rooms and providers become available.
Wait times depend on overall patient volume, room availability, and the severity of incoming cases. An empty waiting room does not always indicate a lack of activity inside the treatment area.
Please notify staff immediately if your child’s condition changes or worsens. Before allowing your child to eat or drink, check with the care team, as certain procedures require fasting. Language interpretation services are available for all families.
Our care is based on a family-centered philosophy. Parents are welcomed at the bedside, and our team communicates openly with you while explaining everything to your child in simple, age-appropriate language.