Emergency rooms at Chicago area children’s hospitals are being flooded with patients, causing long wait times. Doctors urge parents not to bring kids to ERs unless necessary.

Children should be brought to ERs if they are experiencing severe chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, coughing up blood, severe asthma attacks, severe dehydration, severe allergic reactions, serious injuries, changes in mental health status, seizures, high fevers with headaches and stiff necks or sudden changes in the ability to walk, speak, see or move. Parents should also bring in babies 2 months old or younger with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher.