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4 Signs Your Child Needs Urgent Care in Gonzales

Did you know that 80% of children experience at least one ear infection before they turn three years old? Luckily, this is one of the common illnesses that can effectively be treated without waiting days for an opening at your pediatrician’s office – or waiting for hours in the emergency room. Urgent care is the answer. Here are four other signs your child might require it.

1. A Sprain or Strain

Your daughter is giving it all she’s got on the soccer field, and you couldn’t be prouder. Then, suddenly, she goes down, her face twisted in pain and her hands wrapped around her ankle. You might be afraid that she’s broken a bone, but sprains and strains (injuries to the muscles and ligaments, respectively) are pretty common. This is one occasion when it makes sense to head to a facility for urgent treatment. There, they can take X-rays to determine whether or not anything is broken. Luckily, treatment for these injuries is pretty simple and generally consists of RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), but it’s important to rule out more serious issues like torn ligaments or tendons.

2. Cuts and Bleeding

There aren’t many experiences more terrifying than seeing your child bleeding. Many parents, faced with a serious cut or scrape, will bundle up their child and head straight to the emergency room, but urgent care is a better choice, in many cases. It’s important to remember that head wounds, in particular, bleed a lot. The actual injury may be much less serious than the amount of blood would indicate! Try to stanch the bleeding yourself by applying a compress right away. If a cut is particularly long or deep, or if the bleeding won’t stop, take your child to the nearest urgent-care facility for treatment. Some cuts will require stitches, while others can be fixed up quick with surgical adhesive or steri-strips.

3. Illness While Traveling

Of course, you trust your pediatrician and would rather consult them when your child is vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, running a fever, or experiencing a mysterious rash. But what if you’re visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Gonzales, or you’re on vacation? This is where urgent care is an excellent alternative to the emergency room. You and your sick little one will be seen faster. In fact, 97% of urgent-care centers have wait times under 40 minutes! You will receive great care from warm, friendly staff.

4. Your Child Is Uninsured

Sadly, some 5% of children in Louisiana are uninsured. If your child is one of them, you may worry about the cost of taking her to the ER. Urgent care is a cost-effective alternative. They offer lower costs, while still providing the same excellent standards of care as a pediatrician’s office. There’s no need to risk your child’s health and well-being because of financial issues.

Urgent Care: A Smart Alternative

Of course, these are just a few of the illnesses, injuries and other issues that these facilities can treat. Contact Coastal Urgent Care of Gonzales if you’re unsure about whether to bring your child in, and we’ll be happy to advise you!