How often do we hear about sports and other accidents where the victim is known to have had a slight wallop on the head from a fall, been perfectly alright for a while and then succumbed to concussions! The point is not whether one should give up sporting activity but one to consider taking all necessary precautions to avoid being in such a precarious situation in the first place.
There are several things one can do to avoid serious head injury as well as know signs of a concussion (the most common type of traumatic brain injury) if it should occur. If one can learn these things, then to some extent there is preparedness for untoward incidents.
Some common causes of head injury
A head injury is any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain. It can range from a minor bump on the skull to serious brain injury. Every year, millions of people have a head injury. As the skull provides the brain with considerable protection, most of these injuries are minor.
Head injuries are commonly caused by car crashes, falls, sports-related and work-related injuries, assaults and violent attacks. Car crashes are the cause of almost half of all head injuries. Mostly older people and very young children are susceptible to head injuries due to falls. Men seem to be more susceptible to work-related and sports-related head injuries than women and ofcourse, gun shot wounds are part of head injuries with relation to violence.
The amount of force used is directly proportional to the fatality of a head injury. This could result in a mild concussion or a more serious injury. Whatever the case may be it is important to know how to evaluate the seriousness of the person's situation and take a quick, life-saving decision.
Check sign of head injury
In many cases the person who suffers head injury does not lose consciousness. They tend to be 'fine' and continue as if nothing happened. However, one can never tell the kind of internal bruising or bleeding that may have occurred. Even if the skull is not fractured, a severe blow to the head may knock the brain against the inside of the skull and be bruised. In case of an internal injury, the head may look fine, but complications could result from bleeding or swelling inside the skull.
Here are some quick ways to tell if a person has suffered a serious head injury. These will help you make a quick decision as to whether to call emergency services or not.
Common signs that the victim will demonstrate are dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of imbalance and difficulty in concentrating. Some victims stand dazed or paralyzed as it were due to immediate shock. A quick "mental status exam" should be performed to make sure that the person is not suffering from memory loss, confusion or signs of a potentially life-threatening concussion. Make sure:
- The person can follow your finger with his or her eyes.
- The person is able to answer some simple math questions.
- The person can tell what happened in the last few minutes.
It is always wise to watch the person for about 24 hours to see if these symptoms worsen or intensify. If any of these symptoms persist, a visit to the doctor is highly recommended. Leaving a person without a thorough examination could have drastic consequences.
Depending on how grievous the injury is the victims either recover quickly enough or suffer for longer periods of time - sometimes all through their lives. Some people suffer from personality changes and difficulties in co-ordination as permanent damage to their system.
So in general, never overlook the possibility of serious head injury even though it may seem as though a fall was nothing much. On the outside it is very hard to tell what internal bleeding or clotting maybe taking place. Also look for neck and spinal injury before moving a victim straight away.
Precautionary Measures
Better safe than sorry they say. It is always good to be careful and take precautionary measures. Wear a helmet if you ride a bike or are into adventure sport. Wear your seatbelts in any vehicle, even if you aren't the driver and are seated in the rear. Try not to speed when driving long distance and avoid getting into dangerous sports in the first place.
Head injuries are serious and so are their consequences. So do be very careful, after all it's the only head you've got!
