Head injuries can be assigned one of 3 basic categories — Severe, Moderate, and Minor — according to the signs and symptoms.

The following information is a guide only. As advised in the section under The first 48 hours… below, please seek emergency medical attention appropriately.

Severe head injury

• Consciousness is lost for more than 30 seconds
• Drowsiness and not responding to commands as normal
• Pupils are unequal, arm and leg weakness
• A phrase or sound is stuck in the head
• A second fit or convulsion, follows the first experienced at the time of the injury.

Moderate head injury

• Has lost consciousness for less than 30 seconds
• Is alert and responds to normal commands
• Has vomited two or more times
• Has a headache
• One brief fit may have occurred straight after initial injury
• May have large bruise, lump or cut on head

Minor head injury

• No loss of consciousness
• Alert and interactive as usual
• May have vomited but only once
• May have bruising or cuts to the head
• Otherwise normal

The first 48 hours…

A head injury should be reported to a doctor or emergency department if any of the following symptoms occur during the first 48 hours:

• Persistent vomiting
• Excessive drowsiness
• Worsening headache
• Severe dizziness
• Unsteady when walking
• Increasing confusion, restlessness and agitation
• Slurred speech
• Convulsion or seizures

Head Injury Bruising

Bruising and swelling can come from even minor bangs to the head. This is due to the scalp having good blood supply and there being little in the way of padding between skin and skull to absorb the knock. The swelling can be managed to some extent by the application of ice to the injury site. If ice is not available, a packet of frozen peas will do the job.

Wrap in a damp cloth — do not place frozen items directly on the skin.

The swelling should go down quite quickly, leaving the discoloured bruise and some tenderness. If the swelling remains undiminished, seek medical advice.

Head Injury Cuts

Blood supply to the scalp is good, so cuts to the scalp will bleed a lot. Place a clean dressing over the cut and apply pressure to it for 5 to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, if the bleeding hasn’t stopped, seeking medical advice is recommended.

It can be expected that a cut more than 1cm in length will recover more readily when treated by a medical professional.

Head Injury Follow-up

Problems not detected at first after a minor head injury, can emerge later. Be alert to the possibility of these symptoms emerging in the following weeks:

• Irritability
• Mood Swings
• Tiredness
• Concentration problems
• Behavioural changes

Disclaimer: This article is for the purposes of general education only. In the case of head trauma, please consult a medical professional or your closest emergency department. Call 000 immediately for assistance or if you are unsure how to proceed safely.