Stephen CliffordHead Injuries - How Serious Are They?
A bump on the head can sometimes turn into something more serious. Read our guide on how to spot telltale signs of a head injury and how to help...
It is very common for children to bump their heads running around the playground, football pitch, or even at home. Often a simple bump can be treated with a cold flannel and some reassurance. But you must always keep an eye on the child as it could develop into something more serious at any point later on. Below are some tips on what to look out for...
Concussion
Concussion comes as a result of a brief lapse in consciousness after a blow to the head. In itself, concussion is not life-threatening and often passes, but it could develop into cerebral compression depending on how hard their head was hit. Symptoms include:
Mild headache
Dizziness/disorientation
Pale and clammy skin
Nausea
Confusion, forgetting events leading up to the incident
If you suspect a child has concussion, take them to hospital straight away and keep a close eye on them.
Cerebral Compression
This is the build-up of blood pressure on the brain after a head injury. This can happen immediately after the blow to the head, or it can take days. Signs to look out for are as follows:
Decreased level of consciousness
Intense headache
Noisy, low breathing
Unequal pupils
Aggression/unusual behaviour
Red, flushed with a high temperature
One side of the body may be paralysed
Get the child to hospital immediately as they will require surgery to relieve the blood pressure. Keep an eye on vital signs (breathing, level of consciousness etc.) and keep them upright if they are still conscious.
Skull Fracture
If a child has hit their head hard, you should suspect a skull fracture as it could lead to brain damage and be indicative of spinal injuries. You should look out for the following signs:
Bruising around the eyes, whites may have red specks
Swelling behind an ear
Cerebral Spinal Fluid (yellowish fluid) coming from ears or nose
Facial distortion
Low level of consciousness
If any of these symptoms appear, get help immediately. Put the child in the recovery position to allow any fluids to drain out and reduce the pressure on the brain.
With any head injury, you should also suspect spinal injuries. Make sure you keep the child as still as possible until they can be assessed by a medical professional.
Head injuries can be a scary subject, but our Resus Rangers School Resources Programme introduces the dangers of head injuries in a child-centred and friendly way. If you would like to learn more about our programme, click the link below!