Concussion

Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. We are in high potential of getting a concussion or see a victim of concussion because it can be caused by various reasons such as a hard tackle in football. The main cause is a blow to the head, face or neck. No matter what the causes are, we should have some basic knowledge about how to treat a concussion.

Evaluate the symptoms. If the person suffering from the symptoms as following, seek for the nearest accident and emergency department as soon as possible or call 911 immediately.

• Be unconscious or unable to keep the eyes open
• Have mental confusion
• Feel weak on one side of the body
• Be vomiting repeatedly
• Have a very painful headache
• Have fits or seizures
• Bleed from one ear or both ears
• Have Long drowsiness or lost conscious for more than 1 minute

Before the professional help arrive, what you can do:

• Keep the victim as still as possible in that place and avoid moving which may cause further injury.
• Stay with the victim and keep asking questions continually if the victim is still conscious
• Cool the victim’s head with ice pace or damp towel.

If the symptoms are mild, try to use the self-care techniques:

• Stop the activity immediately if your concussion is caused during some sports.
• Have a good rest. Rest is the best way to recover form a concussion. Get enough sleep at night.
• Apply ice pack for 10-20 minutes to reduce swelling. Remember to wrap the ice with a towel first, as the direct touch of ice may cause damage to the skin.
• Stay away with alcohol and smoking
• Take over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen to relieve the pain. Avoid choosing aspirin or ibuprofen which may worsen bruising.
• Avoid strenuous exercise until you’re completely recovered.
• Avoid activities that may cause physical or mental damage, for instance schoolwork, playing computer, video games.
• Keep somebody along you in the first 48 hours after the injury.
• If the symptoms worsen, seek professional help immediately