A head injury doesn’t always present as an open wound. A force to the head can cause a concussion, with symptoms being loss of consciousness or responsiveness, lack of balance or coordination, drowsiness, dizziness or confusion, blurred vision, headache, seizure, nausea or amnesia.
If you are attending someone with a head injury:
1. Assess the patient’s conscious state. If they are conscious or semi-conscious and breathing normally, place them in the recovery position, but prepare for CPR if their conscious state deteriorates.
2. Call Triple Zero (000) or 112 from a mobile if there is a major laceration or force of injury, or if the patient loses consciousness or vomits.
3. Dress any ear or nose discharge with a sterile dressing but do not pack it.
4. Cover the patient with a blanket and continue your observation and reassurance.
5. Cleanse superficial wounds with saline and apply a sterile dressing.
Seek a medical concussion examination regardless of the type of head injury. Find out more about Head Injury resources and aids here. For more information go to the links below:
https://brainfoundation.org.au/disorders/concussion/
https://clinicalexcellence.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-03/concussion-work-sport.pdf