Of all the injuries that you will come across, trauma to the head and spine is probably the most cause for concern. Even after you have administered first aid to the obvious injury, you have to monitor the injured person carefully for signs of a deeper problem. Any injury involving the delicate structures of the brain or spine needs professional medical care.

The Brain And Spine

We learn in blood borne pathogens training that an injury involving possible contamination should involve first aid and a doctor. This is also true with any injury to the brain or spine. You can treat the external injuries with first aid but it is necessary to follow-up with a physician as soon as possible to make sure the brain or spinal cord has not sustained an injury that could present at a later date. The first 72 hours following a blow to the head is crucial for observation. If the victim shows any signs of unusual behavior, emergency services should be notified.

First Aid First

Following a head injury, you should treat any surface wound to protect it against additional damage. Internal bleeding in the skull could be slow and take hours to begin to show. If the external wound bleeds, apply pressure for 15 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Start with a clean, cloth and leave it on if it soaks through, adding additional cloth as needed.

Goose Eggs

You may apply ice packs to help pain and to keep swelling to a minimum. If a goose egg or large knot develops, avoid putting direct pressure on the lump. Place ice on the lump, making sure you use a cloth to protect the skin.

Check For Signs Of Internal Bleeding

The victim should be checked for signs of bleeding in the skull immediately after the accident and every two hours for the first 24-hour period. They should be checked every four hours for the next 24-hour period and every eight hours on the third 24 hour period. Signs of bleeding inside the skull are as follows.

– Changes in the victims mental state, which could include irritability or unfounded fear.

– Confusion when asked simple questions or inability to remember where they are or what happened.

– If the victim is not alert, or appears drowsy.

– Unusually deep sleep.

– Difficulty in waking, especially if they just went to sleep moments ago.

– Watch for pupils that are unequal. Not everyone has equal sized pupils but if they are unusually unequal following a brain injury, it could present a serious problem.

– A single bout of vomiting can be a reaction to pain. Repeated vomiting or projectile vomiting, (forceful) could be a sign that something is wrong.

– Loss of sight, sense of smell, hearing, and even taste or touch after a head injury is a sign that the injured needs immediate medical attention.

Aftercare Instructions

If the injured person appears to be okay and does not present with any of the indications, follow these steps of first aid and either watch or have a loved one watch the person for 72 hours.

– Check for other injuries around the skull, neck, and torso.
– Make a note of anything unusual like swelling or bruising.
– Swelling can be minimized by having the person lie down with their head elevated slightly.
– Have the injured party avoid exercise, heavy lifting, and exertion for at least 72 hours.
– It is also not advisable for them to drive a vehicle or operate any equipment.

The Next Few Months

Inform the injured person that they will need to follow-up with their family physician as soon as possible. Let them know to watch for persistent headaches, changes in personality, or any other signs of different behavior for two to three months after the incident, as these may be a symptom of a very slow bleed that is building pressure in the skull gradually.

Author Bio: For more information please visit our CPR Recertification website.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: family physician ,headaches,Brain And Spine,trauma,Spine Injury