A bump on the head is part of growing up for every child, but it’s important to distinguish whether a head injury is serious or not. There are some guidelines that you can review below that can help you distinguish between serious and non-serious injuries but they should not be substituted for medical attention.
A head injury that should be considered to be serious may include the following symptoms:
- Constant headache
- Worsening headache
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Drowsiness
- Restlessness
- Confusion
- Clumsiness
- Irritability
- Long-lasting inconsolable crying
- Blood or other fluids leaking from the nose or ears
- Difficulty walking
- Dizziness
If any of these symptoms are present it’s important to seek medical attention right away. You should also monitor your child’s behaviour to check for anything out of the ordinary.
First-Aid for Head Injuries
Make sure that the child is breathing and check their airway. Be prepared to start CPR should the need arise. An unconscious child with a head injury may also have a spinal injury, so do not move them until help arrives. Bleeding should be handled by compressing a clean cloth or gauze against the wound, but if there is any concern that the skull may be fractured, direct pressure would not be indicated.
If you suspect that your child has a head injury that is severe, do not move them unless you have to check their breathing if they are face down, and call 911 immediately. Remember that it’s always best to be safe than sorry when it comes to head injuries in a child so don’t hesitate to seek medical attention. Find out more about head injury first-aid measures at www.heart2heartcpr.com, or contact us today to learn more about first aid courses in your area..