Head Injury, Age 4 and Older - Emergencies
Step One
Step Two
Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.
- Breathing stops for longer than 15 seconds. Begin rescue breathing.
-
Unconsciousness:
- • Occurs for longer than a few seconds after the injury.
- •Develops at any time after the injury.
- The head injury caused a deformity of the skull, such as a sunken spot (depression), bone fragments, or exposed brain (open head injury).
- An obvious wound penetrates the skull, such as a knife or gunshot wound (open head injury). Do not remove objects from the wound.
- A seizure occurs. Protect the person from injury during the seizure.
- Signs of shock are present.
- Severe bleeding does not slow during the first 15 minutes of direct pressure. See how to stop bleeding.
- Signs of a serious
spinal injury are present, including:
- •Inability to move any part of the body (paralysis), and the inability to move is not caused by a direct injury to that part of the body or severe pain.
- •Severe pain in the neck or back.
- •Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the arms or legs.
- •Loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Signs of a
serious head injury are present, such as:
- •Confusion or obvious abnormal behavior.
- •Difficulty waking up or sleepiness.
- •Difficulty speaking or slurred speech.
- •Symptoms that affect one side of the body more than the other side, such as numbness, weakness, or difficulty moving.
- •Changes in the size or shape of the pupils.
- •Loss of vision in one or both eyes.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
July 12, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
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