The brain is a really delicate
and sensitive organ. A hard blow on the head can injure the spinal cord or the
brain even when there is no visible signs of trauma to the face or scalp. That
is the reason why the every head injury is considered to very serious and
should be assessed by the nearest hospital emergency department or the doctor.
Always call the ambulance in
an emergency situation. In the article there are suggestions discussed for the
first aid, but it should not be opted for the substitute for professional
medical care.
There are two types of head
injuries which are classified as the
Open –
with the wounds to the head and face and bleeding
Closed –
no signs of injury to the face or head.
Closed
Head injuries: As you know our brain is a soft material
which is protected by the skull. The brain does not fill the skull entirely
where as it floats in a transparent clear, nourishing liquid called
cerebro-spinal fluid. This fluid acts as the shock absorber but it has a
limited protective value.
The fluid can absorb the
kinetic energy of a small knock to the head or the face, but a really hard
impact can easily smash the brain inside the skull. This can easily bruise the
brain and cause the tear to the blood vessels. This can cause the swelling
within the skull as well if the blood and the blood serum start to escape. The
pressure inside the skull can also cause a permanent damage by forcefully
crushing the brain. Not all the time, we can rely on the blood for the
seriousness of the injury, apart from wounds there are many other symptoms
which can be considered to be the serious head injury.
The symptoms of a head
injury are discussed below:
Consciousness – if the person has started
loosing its consciousness for the short or longer period of time, but confused
or drowsy once gets conscious again. This may be due to the brief seizure,
which can be changed by deteriorating again later.
Skull deformities – if there are the signs of
compression or deformities which indicates the fractures.
Fluid running from ear or nose – a skull
fracture, especially that fracture which occur on the base of the skull can
cause the cerebro spinal fluid running from the nose or the ears.
Bruised skin behind the ear and black eyes – this
shows that the forceful blow has ruptured the blood vessels around the ears and
eyes.
Vision Changes – the person with the serious
head injury can experience the enlarger pupils or may be different in size,
which can cause the double or the blurred vision as well.
Nausea – this is the most common side effect
of the serious head injury and always be considered to be as an important
element if it keeps on persisting.
In
the case if there is a serious head injury occurs, then always call an
ambulance.
The first aid treatment when the injured
person is conscious, is to be ceased any movement of their head or neck.
Whereas the scalp injuries starts to bleed, so immediately control the blood
loss from the head wounds by dressing or the direct pressure. While you are
examining the wounds, avoid the disturbing blood clots in the hair. Try to keep
the person calm as much as possible.
The first aid treatment when the injured
person is unconscious has to be handled with the greatest care. The person
should not be allowed to move unless they are in immediate danger. An
unnecessary movement can cause greater complications to the head injury
afterwards. It can also be complicated for the spine or the other associated
injuries as well. The neck will be injured as well if the head is injured.
Firstly
the injured person has to be protected from any potential dangers in any situation. The monitoring of the airway and
the breathing is really much more important until the ambulance arrival. If the
person is having problems while breathing due to the blockage of the airway,
then the head should be carefully tilted back to help the person's breath
normally. If the person has stopped breathing or has no pulse as well, then CPR
is required immediately.
Source: http://www.goarticles.com/article/First-Aid-Treatment-for-Head-Injuries/8258953/