Treating a head injury

Head injuries can potentially be the most threatening injury to a person’s life or long-term health, and although there may be no initial signs of damage, a thorough examination must be carried out before a patient can be given the all-clear. If a sudden head injury is sustained with no obvious medical attention nearby, then you will need to think fast and follow these tips on how to keep the casualty safe and comfortable.
Firstly, if the point of injury is obviously the head or neck, do not move the injured person as this will likely make the situation worse, even if the sufferer is in clear discomfort. Even if you have some medical experience, such as a first-aid certificate, call an ambulance immediately. The sooner the professionals arrive on the scene and are able to apply treatment, the better. If you feel that you should stay with the person, then call for help of a passer-by and they can phone the emergency services for you.
You will need to check if the person is conscious or not, because if they are not then immediate treatment will have to be applied. Open eyes and breathing are not sure signs of consciousness and you will need to check for reactions to certain prompts such as saying their name, asking “can you hear me?” and tapping them on the shoulder. You can also use the ABC method to check their airway, breathing and circulation for signs of life.
Airway – For oxygen to reach the lungs, a clear airway is needed and this could be threatened by the tongue rolling to the back of the mouth due to unconsciousness. If the person’s breathing is impaired, gently tilt the head back by lifting the chin and this will allow air to enter their body through the nose and mouth.
Breathing – Obvious signs of breathing are chest movements and feeling breath on your hand if you place it near their mouth. You may also want to place a mirror (or any other plane that you have on-hand) near their mouth to check for condensation that would come from their breath.
Circulation – After ensuring that they have a clear airway and are breathing regularly, you need to ensure that this oxygen is being carried around the body to the vital organs. You can check this by feeling for a pulse in the neck or wrist by gently pressing two fingers against the artery.
One of the most important things to consider is to keep the person warm and comfortable before professional help arrives. A person might appear to be fine after receiving a head injury, and may want to get up and walk away, but as the old saying goes, “it is better to be safe than sorry” and this is very true in the case of head injuries, as damage can often be internal and not noticeable in the short-term. Certain things to look for that might be signs of internal injury are headaches, throwing up, dizziness, memory loss, blurred vision, being unsteady or dilating eyes.

About the Author

If you have suffered from a head or spinal injury, maybe as a result of medical negligence, you could be eligible for compensation and should contact the experts at Irwin Mitchell for legal help.

Author Profile: david field

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