How restless and helpless did you feel when your loved one fell down and hurt himself in the head for the first time? Wasn’t it terribly petrifying and distressing? I have experienced the same too!!
Well, the good news is that most head injuries are not alarming and you can do a lot to safeguard your little one in such mishaps .Head injuries in children are common during childhood and adolescence. After all, falling is a way of growing up too!!
I did a bit of my research on the net and thought of sharing some useful information .
Treatment (If the child is not an infant ,has not lost consciousness and doesn’t exhibit any of the behaviors below):
· Apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth to the affected area
· If the child is bleeding, press a clean cloth lightly and check if it stops after a while, else see a doctor. If the cloth soaks, place a new one.
· If color and breathing are normal, and no other abnormalities are observed, let the child sleep (unless the doctor advises otherwise).
· Observe the child closely for the next 24 hours. If you notice any signs of internal injury, visit a doctor immediately.
· Check for the patient’s breathing pattern and if necessary do Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
· If the child is vomiting, turn him to the side keeping the head and neck straight..This will prevent choking and further injuries.
Call the doctor if following signs are noticed:
o Won't stop crying
o The child is an infant
o Bleeding
o Has lost consciousness, even momentarily;
o Head and neck pain
o Vomits continually
o Difficult to awaken
o Hard to console (Restless/irritability)
o Doesn’t walk normally
o Fracture/stiff neck
o Blurred vision
o Garbled speech/convulsion
o Difficulty in breathing
o Any other abnormal behavior
Here’s a checklist for head injuries that I found at http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/head_injury.html
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