Visit our foundation to give a gift.
 View Locations Near Me
Main Campus – Hartford
Connecticut Children’s – Waterbury
Urgent Care – Farmington
Specialty Care Center – Danbury
Connecticut Children’s Surgery Center at FarmingtonÂ
Specialty Care Center – Fairfield
Search All LocationsÂ
Find a doctorÂ
Contact Us Â
Search SpecialtiesÂ
Find A DoctorÂ
Request an Appointment
Locations
Amenities and Services
Who’s Who on Care Team
Getting Ready for Surgery
What to Expect—Picture Stories
Disney Initiative
Pay a Bill
Understanding the Different Fees
Pricing Transparency and Estimates
Child Life
Raytheon Technologies Family Resource Center
Family Advisory Council
Transition Programs
Advocacy
Legal Advocacy: Benefits, Education, Housing
Electronic Health Records
MyChart
Share Your Story
Pay a BillÂ
Login to MyChartÂ
Specialty Referrals
Clinical Support Services Referrals
Inpatient Referrals
ED/Transport Referrals
About the Network
Join the Network
Graduate Medical Education
Continuing Medical Education
MOC/Practice Quality Improvement
Educating Practices in the Community (EPIC)
For Nurses
Learning & Performance
Research
Resources
CLASP/Referral Guidelines
Meet our Physician Relations Team
Request Medical Records
Join our Referring Provider Advisory Board
View our Physician Callback Standards
Read & Subscribe to Medical NewsÂ
Register for Email Updates
Update Your Practice Information
Refer a Patient Â
Contact OneCall Â
Find and Print Health Info Â
Health Information For Parents
Could you remember important information about your child’s health in an emergency?
That can be hard, so doctors suggest that parents keep a record of their kids’ important health facts handy. This can help a medical team make a better, quicker diagnosis when time really counts.
Making a complete written or computer-based medical history for your kids is a good idea. Be sure their medical records have this information:
This is especially important if a child is allergic to any medicines — penicillin, for example — or other antibiotics. Allergies to food, dye, or contrast material (dye or other substances used in tests like CAT scans) can come into play, too, so make note of anything your child has had a reaction to. Kids who’ve previously been hospitalized may have developed latex allergies.
This information can sometimes help emergency personnel find a cause for problems such as breathing difficulties and hives.
Your handy medical record should list any medicines, including dosages, that your kids currently take. Some medicines react badly when taken together, so the paramedics and doctors need this information before they give a child anything. You’ll need to know when a child took the medicine last and how much was taken.
It is also very important for emergency personnel to be told of any health problems or illnesses a child has had. For example, does your child have diabetes, a bleeding disorder, or asthma? These pre-existing conditions can have a huge effect on which tests and treatments are used in an emergency.
Kids who have a chronic health problem or a known allergy should wear an identifying tag on a necklace or bracelet. This kind can help doctors who are providing emergency care, especially if a child suddenly becomes ill at childcare, school, or a friend’s house.
Don’t forget to include the dates of any surgeries your child has had — this can be important to the course of treatment in an emergency.
Keeping a clear and up-to-date record of your kids’ immunization history can help doctors do a better job of diagnosing a problem in an emergency. If the doctor suspects that a child has an infection, for example, it may save much time to know that the child has had a particular immunization.
The staff at your doctor’s office can help you compile information on your kids’ immunization status.
There may not be time to weigh a child in an emergency. Having a recent weight handy can help doctors calculate dosages of any medicine that may be needed.
A family medical history is helpful information to have on hand. Doctors usually ask if anyone else in the family has any medical problems because this can be important when diagnosing and dealing with a current illness.
You might not be able to recall all this information in an emergency, so add it to your kids’ medical records.
If your kids spend time in a childcare center or with a babysitter, you’ll want to add other information to the medical record.
Besides instructions on how to reach you quickly, your care provider should have the name and phone number of your child’s doctor and dentist. This will help the caretaker contact the office where your child’s full
medical history is on file — in case you can’t be reached.
And if you’ll be away from your kids for a longer time, such as for a vacation or business trip, and they stay with a sitter or family member other than your spouse, you’ll want to leave a release allowing that person to authorize medical care. (Note: In the event of a life-threatening emergency, a medical release isn’t necessary. Medical personnel are authorized to do what they must to save the life of someone involved in an accident or other emergency.)
It doesn’t take long to compile a written or computer-based medical history for your kids. And doing so could mean saving critical minutes — when they count most!
Because EHRs improve how well your doctors talk to each other and coordinate your treatment, they can enhance your medical care. Get the facts on electronic health records.
Boo-boos, bug bites, and broken bones – oh my! Here’s your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about how to keep kids safe.
Should you head to the ER when your child is hurt or ill? What about an urgent care center? Different problems need different levels of care, and you have many options.
You can be a big help when someone is hurt or in danger. How? By dialing 911. Find out more in this article for kids.
In a medical emergency, kids can be heroes just by calling for help. Find out more in this article for kids.
One of your most important tasks as a parent is finding a qualified babysitter. Here are some essential tips on choosing and instructing a babysitter.
Many health institutions digitally store their patients’ health information. Learn about electronic health records (EHRs) and how they can improve health care.
Knowing what to expect when you need to take your child to the emergency room can help make it a little less stressful.
Each time you hop up on a doctor’s exam table, somebody makes a note in your medical records. There may come a time when you need your medical information, so find out how to get it and how it’s protected.