Parents and guardians are being asked to consider their options before making a trip to the emergency department at McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH).
On average, officials say 190 children per day have been visiting the ER over the past week.
“We are seeing multiple different viruses circulating in the community at the same time right now, some causing very high fevers,” says Dr. Christopher Sulowski, chief of the pediatric emergency department at MCH.
Common colds, influenza and the lingering COVID-19 infection are just some of the ailments the facility is dealing with this spring, according to the doctor.
The number of visits to MCH spiked to more than 250 on May 16, beating a record of 230.
Hamilton Health Sciences said that is resulting in longer than normal wait times.
“These high fevers don’t always necessitate a trip to the emergency department. Instead, keep kids hydrated and comfortable with medications,” urged Sulowski.
MCH stressed that children are prioritized to be seen based on the severity of their condition.
As always, officials ask anyone who thinks their child is having a medical emergency to call 9-1-1 right away.
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