Family Living: Eight Things Your ER Doctor Wishes You Knew 

Dr. Aaron R., MD, an ER doctor in Chicago, Illinois, shares eight things everyone should know about the Emergency Room — and how to avoid ending up there

Seatbelt Saga

Dr. R. has seen cases where there’s one simple difference between life and death in a terrible accident. Once, two teenage girls were driving recklessly, crashed into a truck, flipped over, and had to be extricated from the car. The unseatbelted passenger suffered from a collapsed lung, fractured foot, and broken vertebrae. The seatbelted driver didn’t have a scratch on her.

We hear so much about seatbelts that it can become annoying. But witness what happens when someone drives without every passenger securely strapped in… and it’s not annoying anymore.

How’s the Head?

Head injuries are some of the most common daily injuries in the ER, mainly among kids.

If your child…

• Lost consciousness
• Is vomiting
• Isn’t acting like they usually do
• Has a bump that isn’t on their forehead
• Fell more than two to three times their height

…head straight to the ER.

Still not sure? Don’t hesitate. This list does not replace a proper medical exam by an experienced provider.