First Aid for Head Injuries

Head injuries can seem minor at first, but can sometimes prove to be much more sever later. This is why correct first aid for head injuries is paramount.

Symptoms: Lump, cut, bruise, or dent in scalp; pain; unconscious-ness; drowsiness; confusion; blood or fluid draining from nose, ear, or mouth; vomiting; convulsions; dis-coloration under eyes; unequal pupils; breathing or speech difficulty; paralysis; restlessness.

Emergency Treatment

  1. Call for EMS for all but minor cuts and scrapes. Suspect back or neck injury if victim cannot move limbs or digits or has neck or back pain. (See back or neck injury.)

  2. Monitor airway, breathing, and signs of circulation (see ABCs), and check for shock (see shock).

  3. Keep victim lying down. DO NOT move victim or allow victim to move. DO NOT give victim anything to eat or drink.

  4. Control bleeding (see bleeding,external) but DO NOT press on dent in skull, remove impaled object, (see impaled object), or clean deep scalp wounds. Clean only minor wounds with soap and water.
To learn more about first aid and emergency care, see:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.