How to Treat Head Injuries
When a person sustains a head injury, swelling of the brain can result. If the injury is severe enough, a person could experience contusions (brusing) or even a blood clot otherwise called a “hemotoma.” The swelling or “edema” can cause the brain to expand to such an extent it may actually push the contents of a skull to one side of the head. This can result in a wide-range of symptoms that can sometimes even go unoticed. To treat head injuries, there are a few things you need to keep in mind as symptoms may peak or subside depending on the type of head injury.
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Instructions
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Treat Head Injuries
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Determine if the head injury is closed or open. A closed injury can result from something like a blow to the head, but may not be readily or outwardly apparent. An open head injury is when the skull may actually be broken open.
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Talk and check for irregular breathing. A common symptom of serious head injury is irregular breathing. While talking, notice if the person had difficulty relating the events to you. Aside from breathing factors, this will also let you know if the person is experiencing other symptoms like slurred speech, dizziness and personality change.
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Keep the person still. Try to have the person stay as still as possible. If they are unconscious, treat a person as if they had a severe back injury. Stabilizing the head in line with the back is one way you can do this. If a person is bleeding, press a cloth to the open wound and keep it there no matter what, even if they are bleeding excessively. In the event of a fracture, do not press on it. Simply cover or dress the wound, if you can.
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Prevent choking. If a person is vomiting or bleeding from the nose or mouth, try to prevent them from choking. Do this by moving the head, neck and body as one. Never tilt the head or move the neck alone.
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Tips & Warnings
A good rule of thumb when dealing with an open type injury is to call 911 immediately. This is not to suggest, however, that a closed injury should not merit immediate medical attention.
Wear safety equipment.
When medical help arrives, relate any abnormalities the injured person experienced.
Get someone to help you.
If an object is attached or protruding from a person's head, do not remove it.
Never shake people with head injuries. A common mistake is to jerk or jiggle someone who may be injured.
