It's 6:45am. Your forehead-check says “warm,” your calendar says “big meeting,” and your gut says “I have no idea.” After a decade of morning triage calls, our nurses wrote down exactly how they think through this — so you can too.
Bring them to our sick bay
Low-grade fevers (under 102°F), common colds, mild coughs, ear infections already on antibiotics, pink eye on drops, and post-vaccination fussiness all do well in our isolation suite. A nurse monitors vitals hourly, medication is given on schedule, and you get photo updates every two hours.
Keep them home (and call us anyway)
Vomiting or diarrhea that hasn't settled, undiagnosed rashes with fever, or a child who simply cannot stay awake needs home rest and a pediatrician's eyes first. Call our line — triage is free, and we'll tell you honestly if the sick bay fits or if home is safer today.
Skip both — seek urgent care
Difficulty breathing, dehydration (no tears, no wet diapers), stiff neck with fever, or any seizure gets emergency care immediately. If you're ever unsure, call +1 (555) 010-0142 — a nurse answers 24/7 and will direct you in minutes.
The rule of thumb
If your child is uncomfortable but playful, think sick bay. If they're listless or worsening, think doctor or ER. And when in doubt, outsource the doubt to us — that's literally what morning triage is for.