What indicates the need for emergency medical services when assessing an injured child?

The presence of unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing in a child is a clear and critical indicator that emergency medical services (EMS) are needed. In this situation, the child's inability to respond suggests a serious medical issue that requires immediate intervention. Additionally, abnormal breathing patterns can signify respiratory distress or failure, which can rapidly lead to life-threatening complications if not addressed promptly.

In contrast, while playing afterwards indicates that the child may not have a serious injury, it does not provide any reason for concern that necessitates emergency care. Refusing to talk may raise some concern, but it is not an automatic indicator of a life-threatening condition as unresponsiveness is. Similarly, a scrape with minimal bleeding is generally not an emergency situation and can typically be treated with basic first aid rather than requiring advanced medical attention. Therefore, the combination of unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing stands out as a definitive reason to call emergency medical services.