How to Identify Head Injuries

When a person hits his head, many different injuries can result. It is important to know what to look for when someone hits his head or sustains an injury. It is very important to note any signs that may be cause for alarm. When assessing a head injury, no one should assume that just because a person appears to be all right after assessment that he is fine. Supervise any person with a head injury for hours after the injury. If the injury appears to be serious, immediate attention is needed without assessing the head injury. Support the head when moving an injured person.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Common sense

How to Identify Head Injuries

1. Look for any physical signs of injury such as a cut, scrape or swelling. Any of these conditions may need immediate medical attention. If no medical attention is given, keep the person awake for a few hours to make sure there are no signs of a concussion or more severe medical problems. If the person needs to sleep, wake him up every hour and watch for any rapid eye movement during sleep.
2. Check the eyes for movement and positioning after any head injury. The smallest bump on the head can cause severe medical problems. If the eyes are rolling back, seek medical attention quickly. Rapid eye movement can be a sign of a seizure.
3. Ask the person who has sustained a head injury questions. She needs to be able to answer the questions correctly. Ask questions that she should know the answer to. For a young child, ask about something she knows, like her name or who mom and dad are. If she does not know, seek medical attention.
4. Check for limb movement by having the person raise each arm separately. Then have the person move his legs. This will identify any injury to the part of the brain that controls the body movements. If any other injuries are noticeable on the body, do not do this step. Seek medical attention right away.
5. Check the ear, nose and mouth for any bleeding. Bleeding from the ears may be a sign of a serious injury. If bleeding is present, seek medical attention quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Be very careful when moving anyone that might have a severe head injury. Keep the person still and quiet until the assessment is done.
• If unsure about the injury, take the person to the doctor right away.
• Head injuries can be fatal if not treated properly.