Head injuries

• A head injury is any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain.
• Head injury is classified as either closed or open (penetrating).
• Closed head injury skull is not opened.
• An open head injury -broke the skull and entered the brain.

Concussion the most common type of traumatic brain injury, in which the brain is shaken

• Scalp wounds
• Skull fractures

Causes

• traffic accidents
• Fall
• Physical assault
• Accidents at home, work, outdoors
• While playing sports.

Symptoms

• Can occur immediately or develop slowly over several hours or day
• bleeding or swelling inside the skull
• In any serious head trauma, always assume the spinal cord is also injured
• Some head injuries result in prolonged or nonreversible brain damage
• Changes in, or unequal size of pupils
• Chronic or severe headaches
• Coma
• Fluid draining from nose, mouth, or ears (may be clear or bloody)
• Fracture in the skull or face, bruising of the face, swelling at the site of the injury, or scalp wound
• Irritability (especially in children)
• Loss of consciousness, confusion, or drowsiness
• Loss of or change in sensation, hearing, vision, taste, or smell
• Low breathing rate or drop in blood pressure
• Memory loss
• Mood, personality, or behavioral changes
• Paralysis
• Restlessness, clumsiness, or lack of coordination
• Seizures
• Speech and language problems
• Slurred speech or blurred vision
• Stiff neck or vomiting
• Symptoms improve, and then suddenly get worse (change in consciousness)

First Aid

Get medical help immediately if the person:

• Becomes unusually drowsy
• Behaves abnormally
• Develops a severe headache or stiff neck
• Loses consciousness, even briefly
• Vomits more than once

For a moderate to severe head injury, take the following steps:

• Call 112
• Check the person's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
• If person's breathing and heart rate are normal but is unconscious, treat for spinal injury. Stabilize the head and neck by placing your hands on both sides of the person's head, keeping the head in line with the spine and preventing movement.
• Stop any bleeding by firmly pressing a clean cloth on the wound.
• If skull fracture, do NOT apply direct pressure to the bleeding site
• Cover the wound with sterile gauze dressing.
• Apply ice packs to swollen areas.

  Do NOT

  • Remove any object sticking out of a wound.
  • Move the person unless absolutely necessary.
  • Shake the person if he or she seems dazed.
  • Remove a helmet if you suspect a serious head injury.
  • Pick up a fallen child with any sign of head injury.
  • Drink alcohol within 48 hours of a serious head injury