All head injuries should be treated seriously because there could be damage to the person’s brain, which may not be clear at first.
Whether a person gets a bump on the head when they are playing sport, or has a bad fall, or is in a car crash, they may need your help.
Quick help
- Call 111 for an ambulance if the person is unresponsive.
- If the person is playing any sport or doing other physical activity, tell them to stop straight away.
- Get the person to see a doctor.
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What to look for
Nausea or vomiting: The person feels sick or is being sick.
Headache: The person has a headache that may be getting worse.
Confusion: The person is not sure what’s happening around them.
Loss of memory: The person can’t remember what happened before or after the injury.
Loss of balance: The person can’t stand up properly.
Sluggish: The person is slow to answer when you ask them a question or tell them to do something.
Losing consciousness: The person is unconscious or passing out.
Liquid coming out of nose or ear: Blood or watery liquid is coming from the person’s nose or ear.
How you can help
- If the person is playing a sport or doing another activity, tell them to stop straight away.
- Check that they are happy for you to touch them before you give first aid.
- Give them simple pain relief, like paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory medicine.
- Make sure the person sees a doctor before they return to the sport. (Another head injury before their brain has recovered can be serious.)
If the person is unresponsive
- If the person is breathing normally put them on their side and tilt their head back to keep their airway clear (the recovery position).
- Cover the person with a blanket or clothes to keep them warm.
- Keep checking that the person is breathing normally.
- Stay with them until an ambulance arrives.
| If you have a person in urgent need of medical attention, call 111 now. |