Illness Triage — When to Call 911, the Pediatrician, or Monitor
Version 1.0 · Last reviewed July 2026 · Review cadence: Quarterly (immediate on major guideline changes)
Confirm this live card before relying on any number or rule below. This card changes on a Quarterly (immediate on major guideline changes) cadence.
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY FOR
Trouble breathing, struggling to breathe, or blue/gray lips or face; unresponsiveness or extreme difficulty waking; a seizure; severe allergic reaction (see the anaphylaxis card); a stiff neck with fever and a severe headache; major bleeding that won’t stop; or a fall from height with loss of consciousness.
CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN (SAME DAY) FOR
Fever in an infant under about 3 months (any fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher — this is an emergency-level call for the youngest infants); a fever that is rising, persistent, or accompanied by lethargy; signs of dehydration; a rash with fever; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; ear pain; or any symptom that worries you or doesn’t fit. When in doubt, call — the pediatrician’s triage line exists for exactly this.
The full five-lane decision matrix: Volume 1, Unit 3.