Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

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When to call 999 for your child

For life threatening emergencies, calling 999 can get the help that you need.

This infographic gives examples of some of the life threatening emergencies that would lead you to calling 999 and the process you will follow to get help.

For more examples of when you might need to call 999, take a look at this guide on the NHS website.

As your child gets older, you might like to talk this through with them so they know what 999 is for.

Infographic showing some of the reasons to call 999

 

Calling 111

You can call 111 when you need medical help fast, but it’s not an emergency.

When you call 111, a trained advisor will ask you questions to help find out what is wrong, before giving you advice and signposting you to someone who can help, like an out of hours doctor or NHS walk-in centre.

If the person you are speaking to thinks your child’s condition is more serious, they will tell you to go to hospital or send an ambulance.

You can call 111 at any time of the day, and the call is free from landlines and mobiles.

Useful links

Leicester’s Hospitals – A parents guide to self care at home for children aged 0-9

Page last reviewed: 01-07-2024

Next review due: 01-07-2027