Home: Head Trauma

Head Trauma: First Aid

The injury or trauma of any kind to the scalp or the skull; may affect the brain tissue is called as the head trauma. Head injuries may be minor to major ones. The head trauma may be classified as closed injury when some blunt object hits or strikes to the head; or penetrating or the open injury which penetrates the skull and causes damage to the brain tissue.

Head traumas most commonly result from the road traffic accidents, falls, Sports activity, assault or home accidents.

The person may manifest with the symptoms such as loss of consciousness, vomiting, mental confusion , bleeding from the affected site, ear nose or throat bleeding, discharge from the nose, disturbances in the speech, vision, smell or taste, convulsions, paralysis, coma, etc.

The head injuries or traumas that are minor are easy to treat with the self care measures at home.

For minor head trauma:-

Observe the person for the level of the consciousness and alertness by asking his name. Careful observation of the person for about 24 hours is essential.
Watch the area affected for the bleeding.
Application of the ice to the swollen areas may reduce the swelling and provide comfort to the person.

For the moderate to severe head traumas:-

Call 911 immediately.
Check for the person’s airway, breathing and circulation. If required start CPR immediately and initiate the rescue breaths.
Watch out for the bleeding and try to stop it; for this press the bleeding area using clean bandage or the gauze cloth. Do not apply direct pressure on the bleeding area, if you suspect skull fracture.
Take other pieces of the clean gauze to press over the bleeding site if the previous ones become wet. Do not attempt to remove the previous ones.
Maintain the body equilibrium by keeping the head supported to keep it steady especially if you suspect the spinal injury. Avoid shaking the person and his head.
If the person is vomiting, turn the head, neck and body in the side lying posture to prevent choking.
Provide ice application to the swollen areas to reduce the swelling.
Pain relief can be provided using the acetaminophen or the over the counter medications. Avoid aspirin and other anti inflammatory drugs as they may increase the risk of the bleeding.

Immediately call for emergency assistance in case if the person:

Is drowsy, mentally confused or unconscious.
There is head severe headache and neck stiffness.
There is severe bleeding and more frequent vomiting.
There is ear nose and throat bleeding.
Unequal pupil size and diminished or sluggish papillary reaction to the light.
Seizures and slurred speech.
Loss of body balance and paralysis.
Breathing and the circulation are absent.

Disclaimer
This site provides you with the general guidelines and information regarding the first aid measures for the various conditions or health related problems. It is not a substitute for the medical advice or the formal first aid training. It will not be responsible or liable in case one tries to make diagnosis based on the provided information. You always need to consult the doctor and emergency department in case of all the serious emergencies rather than just relying upon the supposed guidelines.