When a blow to the head shakes the brain mass, a trauma called a concussion occurs. This is a fairly common type of trauma; it may be due to a car accident, an injury during a sporting activity or a violent blow to the head or upper body. Although, in most cases, it is only a temporary disorder with no serious consequences, it can cause serious ones if it is not treated promptly and effectively.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Determine if a Person has a Concussion
Step 1. Observe the victim
Examine the lesion and look closely at the patient. Check for a bleeding head wound. A concussion does not always manifest outwardly, but often a hematoma (a large bruise) is created under the scalp.
Visible external wounds are not always a good indicator of severity, as some secondary cuts in the scalp bleed profusely, while others, less obvious, such as impact trauma, can cause irreversible brain damage
Step 2. Check for physical symptoms
Concussions, both mild and severe, can cause many physical symptoms. Pay attention if any of the following show up:
- Loss of consciousness.
- Severe headache.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Double or blurred vision.
- Seeing "stars", spots or other visual anomalies.
- Loss of coordination and balance.
- Dizziness.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs and arms.
- Nausea and vomit.
Step 3. Check for behavioral or cognitive symptoms
Since a concussion directly affects the brain, it could also disrupt its functions. Among the main symptoms are:
- Unusual irritability or excitability.
- Lack of interest or difficulty concentrating, maintaining logic and memory problems.
- Mood swings, inappropriate emotional outbursts and crying fits.
- Sleepiness or lethargy.
Step 4. Evaluate the state of consciousness
As you monitor the victim, you also need to check if they are conscious and understand their level of cognitive function. To check his state of consciousness, put the AVPU rating scale into practice:
- A - Is the victim Alert (alert)? Is she careful, does she look around? Does it answer your questions? Does it react to normal environmental stimuli?
- V - Does it respond to your Voice? Does she respond normally when you ask and talk to her, even if it is short sentences or is she not fully alert? Is it necessary to shout for it to answer? A victim can respond to verbal commands but not be alert. If he answers with a simple "huh?" when you talk to her, it means she is verbally responsive but probably not alert.
- P - Does it react to Pain or to touch? Try pinching her skin to see if she moves a little or if she opens her eyes. Another technique is to squeeze or hit the base of the nails. Be careful while using these techniques; you don't have to cause unnecessary damage. You just have to try to get a physical reaction.
- U - Is the victim Unresponsive (not responding) to any stimulus?
Step 5. Continue to check the patient
Most concussion symptoms appear within minutes of the injury. Others even hours later. Some symptoms may change next day. Monitor the victim and call a doctor if symptoms worsen or change.
Part 2 of 3: Treating a Mild Concussion
Step 1. Apply ice
To reduce the swelling of a minor injury, you can apply an ice pack to the affected area. Put it 2-4 hours apart for 20-30 minutes each time.
- Do not place ice directly on the skin. Wrap it in a cloth or plastic sheet. If you can't get ice, use a bag of frozen vegetables.
- Do not put pressure on any head injury, as you may push bone splinters into the brain.
Step 2. Have the victim take over-the-counter pain relievers
To treat head pain at home, give her acetaminophen such as Tachipirina. Do not let her take ibuprofen or aspirin because they could cause bruising or aggravate the bleeding.
Step 3. Stay focused
If the victim is conscious, keep asking questions. This serves two purposes: to assess the severity of the injury and to keep the person awake. By continuing to ask him questions, you can observe if there are any changes in his cognitive status, if he can no longer answer a question he was previously able to answer, and so on. If you notice your level of consciousness worsening, you need to see a doctor. Here are some helpful questions to ask:
- What day is today?
- Do you know where you are?
- What happened to you?
- What's your name?
- Do you feel OK?
- Can you repeat the following words after me…?
Step 4. Stay with the victim
For the first 24 hours, stay with her. Don't leave her alone. Keep an eye on his physical and cognitive functions in the event of changes. If she wants to sleep, wake her up every quarter of an hour for the first 2 hours, then every half hour for the next two hours, then every hour.
- Each time you wake her up, take the AVPU consciousness test as outlined above. You must constantly monitor his cognitive and physical status in case the symptoms appear later or worsen.
- If the victim does not react when you want to wake them, treat them as an unconscious patient.
Step 5. If you are the victim, avoid making an effort
In the days following the head injury, you don't have to play sports and other strenuous activities. During this time, you don't even have to stress yourself out. The brain needs to rest and heal. Before you go back to playing sports, you should see your doctor.
Step 6. Don't drive
Do not use the car or ride a bicycle until you feel completely healed. Ask someone to drive the car to take you to the doctor's office or hospital.
Step 7. Rest
Don't read, don't watch TV, don't write, don't listen to music, don't play video games, or do any other mental tasks. You need to rest both physically and mentally.
Step 8. Eat foods that help the brain heal
Food is important in helping the brain recover and if it is not healthy it can further compromise the situation. Avoid drinking alcohol after a concussion. Also avoid fried foods, sugars, caffeine, artificial colors and flavors. Instead, opt for the following foods:
- Avocado.
- Blueberries.
- Coconut oil.
- Nuts and seeds.
- Salmon.
- Butter, cheese and eggs.
- Honey.
- Any kind of fruit and vegetables you like.
Part 3 of 3: Treating a Severe Concussion
Step 1. Contact a doctor
Any suspicion of head injury or concussion should be evaluated by a competent physician. What may appear to be a minor injury could be fatal. If the victim does not regain consciousness, call an ambulance. If not, take her to the nearest emergency room or doctor's office.
If the victim is unconscious or if you are unsure of the extent of the damage, call an ambulance. To drive a patient who has suffered a head injury, you must move him, which should never be done until the head is stabilized. Moving a concussion victim could result in death
Step 2. Go to the hospital
If the trauma is severe, the victim should be taken to the emergency room. If you notice that he has any of these symptoms, make him go to the hospital immediately for immediate treatment:
- Loss of consciousness, even if for a short time.
- Moments of amnesia.
- Feeling light-headed or confused.
- Bad headache.
- Repeated vomiting.
- Seizures.
Step 3. Keep the victim immobile and prevent them from making any movement
If you fear that in addition to concussion there is an injury to the neck or spine, avoid moving the victim while waiting for medical intervention, otherwise you could cause further injuries.
If you need to move it, be very careful. Make sure you move her head and back as little as possible
Step 4. If you are the victim, pay attention to the symptoms afterwards as well
If you notice they don't improve within 7-10 days, see your doctor. If you find that at any time you are experiencing something strange or unusual and your symptoms get worse, go to your doctor.
Step 5. Undergo the treatments indicated by your doctor
The effects of concussion on the brain and cognitive function are not much known. However, some treatments prescribed by your doctor can improve persistent symptoms.
