NHS Direct

• Acne
• Back pain
• Bumps and bruises
• Burns - First Aid
• Burns or scalds
• Diarrhoea and vomiting
• Earache
• Eye discharge
• Head injury
• Head lice
• High temperature - fever
• Insect bites and stings
• Itching
• Cuts and grazes (lacerations)
• Swallowed non-harmful substance
• Nosebleeds
• Seizures
• Sprains and strains
• Sunburn
• Vaginal discharge
• Vaginal itching
• Wounds - First Aid  

Head injury

About head injury

Around 1 million people every year need medical treatment for a knock or a blow to the head.

Minor head injuries, although painful, usually don’t require any medical treatment. They can be caused by a number of reasons, such as a trip or fall, a sporting injury or an accident in the home or workplace.

A minor injury requires rest and particular attention paid to any change in behaviour or mood, which may indicate a more serious problem.

An injury to the head can cause a bump or bruise. But you may also experience:

• feeling nauseous (feeling sick)
• mild headache
• bruising or tenderness and swelling to the scalp
• mild dizziness

Children are more likely to experience a minor head injury. This is because they often have high levels of energy and do not sense danger. A child who has injured their head should be watched closely for 48 hours (2 days) for any signs of changes to their condition.

Looking after yourself

If you have a head injury there are a number of things you can do to help manage the condition. Here is some self help information:

• You may find a cold compress useful. You should reapply the compress for 20 minutes every 3-4 hours for the first 24 hours of the injury.
• The person who is injured should sit quietly for the first 2 hours after the injury.
• Anyone with a head injury should be monitored closely for 48 hours after the injury.
• If you are the person who is injured, you should ask a friend or relative to stay with you for 48 hours after the injury.
• There is no need for a person to stay awake following a head injury. If you are injured, you should ask the person who is caring for you to very carefully check on you while you are sleeping, and gently wake you every 2 hours to make sure you respond normally. If you are caring for a person with a head injury, you should also do this.
• If the person is not responding normally, they should be woken up fully and have their condition checked by a health professional, such as a doctor.
• Being sick (vomiting) after a head injury is not unusual. However if you are sick more than once you will need further assessment.
• Strenuous activity should be avoided for 2-3 days – be careful when bending or lifting.
• Contact sports – like rugby, football and hockey should be avoided for 3 weeks.
• Children should avoid excitable play for 2-3 days. Gentle and quiet activities should be encouraged.
• Avoid drinking alcohol for at least 3 days after the injury. And you should not take sleeping pills, sedatives or tranquillisers unless your GP has said it is fine to take them.
• Try to wear protective head gear – for example, helmets and masks during future sporting activities like cycling, skate boarding, roller blading and horse riding.
• If you are in pain, get advice on taking ibuprofen or paracetamol.
• Stronger painkiller medicines should be avoided unless your GP has prescribed them for this injury. Painkillers may hide signs that your condition is getting worse.

If you notice any of the following symptoms after a head injury, you should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 immediately:

• A headache which gets worse or you still have it 6 hours after the initial injury.
• Great difficulty staying awake, or still being sleepy several hours after the injury.
• Being sick (vomiting) more than once after hurting your head.
• Falling unconscious – even for a short amount of time.
• The pupils in your eyes are different sizes.
• Losing your balance or feeling extremely dizzy.
• Confusion.
• Strange or not usual behaviour – such as sudden aggression.
• Loss of memory.
• Slurring whilst speaking.
• Difficulty with your vision, or seeing double.
• Clear coloured fluid or blood coming from the ears or nose.
• A fit or seizure (uncontrolled movement of the body).
• Ringing or deafness in the ears.
• Bleeding from a head wound which does not stop easily.

Links:

Head injury, minor (NHS Choices)
Head injury, severe (NHS Choices)
Accidents and first aid (NHS Choices)
Video, preventing accidents (NHS Choices)
Head injury, minor, patient information leaflet (NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries)
Head injury (Patient UK)
Head injury (BBC)
Head injury in childhood (BBC)
Accidents to children (RoSPA)
First aid tips and videos (British Red Cross)