Concussion may be a common occurrence, it can lead to coma and even death if left untreated. Here are the steps you should take to prevent damage to the brain.
ER24’s Athish Mohun, a paramedic, says he and his team responds to reports of concussions almost daily. This type of injury is most prevalent in contact sports like rugby and soccer in South Africa but any injury to the head can cause a concussion – or a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), as it’s also known.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by an impact to the head or violent shaking of the head or upper torso. The impact causes your brain to shift suddenly inside the skull, and it is this chaotic motion that stretches, tears and damages brain cells.
Most people recover well from symptoms experienced at the time of injury, but for some people it could take longer, especially if a second concussion occurs. In some cases, concussion could be a warning sign of a more serious brain injury.
Concussion symptoms
If the patient is still conscious it may be more difficult to diagnose a concussion, but look out for some of these symptoms:
Physical
Headache
Blurred/ double vision
Nausea
Balance problems
Lethargy
Slurred speech
Thinking
Difficulty thinking clearly
Difficulty remembering new information
Difficulty concentrating
In children, persiistent crying or cannot be controlled
Emotions
Headache
Difficulty thinking clearly
Irritable
Blurred/ double vision
Difficulty remembering new information
Sadness
Nausea/ vomiting
Difficulty concentrating
More emotional than usual
Balance problems
In children, persistent crying or cannot be controlled
Change in sleep patterns: sleep more/ less
Lethargy
Slurred speech
More serious warning signs:
- Pupils change size (1 pupil bigger)
- Confusion and disorientation
- Convulsions/ Seizures
- Drowsy/ difficulty waking patient up
- Loss of consciousness
Two common mistakes
Mohun says bystanders who try to help a concussed person can often, unknowingly, do more harm than good. Here are the two most common mistakes paramedics see:
- Moving the patient around
- Carrying the patient away from where the injury occurred
“It’s human nature to try and help but carrying the patient can actually make things worse – especially if the patient has any related spine or neck injuries,” warns Mohun.
Get help quickly
“Getting checked out early is vital,” says Mohun.
Mohun says people tend to ignore the symptoms of a concussion – sometimes for weeks – only to get to an emergency department and discover bleeding or swelling in the brain.
What can bystanders do while they wait?
- Keep the patient where they are
- Keep the patient as still as possible (whether conscious or unconscious)
- Try not to move the head and the neck
- Calm the patient down (if confused)
- Stay with the patient until help arrives to prevent a second injury
- Keep the patient away from any hazards
- Wait for medical help to get there
- If the patient vomits, turn them on their side
Read more
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
- https://www.mediclinicinfohub.co.za/concussion-just-bump-head/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/suspect-a-concussion-how-to-help-not-hurt-your-recovery/
- https://er24.info/protect-your-head/
- https://er24.info/sport-guard-against-head-injuries/
