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This article has been co-written by Michael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN. Michael D. Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN, is an expert in brain nutrition, specifically the prevention and recovery of brain injury. In 2012, when he retired as a colonel after 31 years of service in the US Army, he founded the Brain Health Education and Research Institute. He now practices privately in Potomac, Maryland and is the author of When the Brain Collisions: What Athletes and Parents Should Know About Preventing and Treating Concussions and Head Injuries .” He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and Tulane University School of Medicine, and completed graduate training at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, and the Army Research Institute. Walter Reed Dr. Lewis is a PhD student from the American College of Preventive Medicine and the American College of Nutrition.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 112,154 times.
A head injury is any injury that occurs to the brain, skull, or scalp. These injuries can be open or closed and range from mild bruising to concussion. It is difficult to make an accurate assessment of a head injury just by looking at the victim, and any head injury can be very serious. [1] X Research Sources However, by quickly checking for potential signs of a head injury, you can still recognize the symptoms of a head injury and seek prompt care.
Steps
Watch for signs of injury
- Bleeding cuts or scrapes, which may bleed heavily because the head has more blood vessels than other parts of the body
- Nose or ear bleeding or discharge
- Dark blue skin underneath the eyes or ears
- Bruised
- Swollen lumps, sometimes called “goose eggs” [4] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Foreign object stuck in head
- Stop breathing
- Severe headache or increasing pain intensity
- Overbalance
- Loss of consciousness
- Weakness
- Unable to control arms or legs
- Irregular pupil size or abnormal eye movements
- Convulsion
- Crying without stopping if you are a child
- Loss of taste
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded [5] X Research Source
- Temporary tinnitus
- Extremely sleepy [6] X Research Source
- Lost memory
- Mood swings [8] X Research Sources
- Confusion or Disorientation [9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Slurred speech [10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or disturbance of the mind. [11] X Research Source
- Ask friends or family if they have noticed any potential symptoms in your behavior or obvious physical signs, such as discoloration of the skin.
Medical care for head injuries
- Call 911 if you have any of the following: heavy bleeding in the head or face, severe headache, loss of consciousness or breathing, convulsions, persistent vomiting, weakness, confusion, irregular pupil size, the skin below the eyes and ears turns blue-black. [14] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- See your doctor within a day or two of a serious head injury, even if the injury does not require emergency care. Be sure to tell your doctor how the injury happened and what pain relief you have at home, including any pain relievers or first aid measures used. [15] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Note that determining the exact type of head injury and its severity is virtually impossible with first aid. Internal injuries must be evaluated by a medical professional with appropriate medical facilities.
- Roll up a jacket or blanket and place it close to the casualty’s head to keep it in place while you perform first aid maneuvers.
- Keep the casualty as still as possible while slightly raising their head and shoulders. [17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Do not remove the victim’s helmet to avoid further injury.
- Do not shake the victim, even if they appear confused or lose consciousness. You can pat, but do not move the victim.
- Unless a skull fracture is suspected, you can apply pressure with a clean gauze bandage or cloth. In case of suspected skull fracture, you should only apply sterile gauze to the wound.
- Avoid removing the bandage or cloth over the wound. Only place new gauze on top if blood has soaked the gauze. You should also not remove debris from the wound. Lightly cover the wound with a bandage if there is a lot of debris in the wound.
- Note that you should never wash a wound on your head if it is bleeding heavily or the wound is too deep.
- Remember to support the victim’s head, neck, and spine as you roll them onto their side.
- Apply ice to the wound for 20 minutes at a time, maybe three to five times a day. Remember to seek medical attention if swelling does not subside within a day or two. Call 911 immediately if the wound becomes increasingly swollen, accompanied by vomiting and/or severe headache.
- Use a commercial ice pack or use a bag of frozen vegetables or fruit to apply. Remove the ice pack if it is too cold or painful. Place a towel or cloth over the ice pack when applying to avoid discomfort and frostbite.
- Observe any changes in the victim’s breathing and consciousness. If victim stops breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if possible. [21] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Continue talking to reassure the victim so you can also notice changes in their voice or cognitive abilities.
- Make sure the victim with a head injury does not drink alcohol for 48 hours. Alcohol can mask signs of serious injury or worsening of a patient’s condition. [22] X Research Source
- Be sure to seek medical attention if you are unsure of any changes in the head injury victim.
Warning
- Do not allow athletes with head injuries to return to play.
This article has been co-written by Michael Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN. Michael D. Lewis, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM, FACN, is an expert in brain nutrition, specifically the prevention and recovery of brain injury. In 2012, when he retired as a colonel after 31 years of service in the US Army, he founded the Brain Health Education and Research Institute. He now practices privately in Potomac, Maryland and is the author of When the Brain Collisions: What Athletes and Parents Should Know About Preventing and Treating Concussions and Head Injuries .” He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and Tulane University School of Medicine, and completed graduate training at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, and the Army Research Institute. Walter Reed Dr. Lewis is a PhD student from the American College of Preventive Medicine and the American College of Nutrition.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 112,154 times.
A head injury is any injury that occurs to the brain, skull, or scalp. These injuries can be open or closed and range from mild bruising to concussion. It is difficult to make an accurate assessment of a head injury just by looking at the person, and any head injury can be very serious. [1] X Research Sources However, by quickly checking for potential signs of a head injury, you can still recognize the symptoms of a head injury and seek prompt care.
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