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A blow to the head can cause the brain to hit the braincase. The consequences of this blow are known as concussion. Concussion is the most common type of head injury. While most concussions are a temporary injury with no permanent damage, permanent problems can occur if not treated promptly and effectively.

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1. Assess the victim. Examine the wound and watch the victim carefully. Visible injuries are not always a good indicator, because while the scalp can bleed a lot, invisible injuries can also cause major damage to the brain. If the victim has two or more of the following symptoms, you should expect a concussion. Then treat the victim adequately:
   • Physical symptoms including unconsciousness, severe headache, photosensitivity, double or blurred vision, seeing 'stars', spots or other visual abnormalities, loss of coordination, balance disturbances, dizziness, numbness, tingling or weak legs and arms, stuttering or poor hand-eye coordination , nausea and vomiting.
   • Cognitive symptoms including unusual irritability, disinterest, problems with concentration, logic and memory, mood swings or outbursts of inappropriate emotions, crying spells and drowsiness or lethargy.
2. Contact the doctor. Any suspicious head injury or concussion should be examined by a doctor. What looks like a harmless head wound can prove fatal. If a victim is unconscious, consider calling an ambulance. Otherwise, drive to the nearest GP post or hospital.
3. Stand still and prevent movement. Do not move the victim, this can cause more damage. Have the victim lie down and give him a pillow to support the head if desired.
4. Assume a concussion. It is important to know if a victim is conscious and what the level of cognitive functionality is. Test that with the following ASPU steps:
   • A - is the victim alert? - are your questions answered? (see the step below for sample questions)
   • S - the victim responds to you voice? - give voice commands or ask questions (see the step below for sample questions)
   • P - the victim responds pain or touch? - Squeeze the skin to see if there is a reaction and that the eyes open.
   • You - responds the victim not on every action taken?
5. Stay focused. If the victim is conscious, keep asking questions. This is for two things: to find out what the patient's injuries are and to keep the victim awake. Good questions are:
   • "What is the date today?"
   • "Where are you?"
   • "What happened to you?"
   • "What's your name?"
   • "Are you feeling well?"
6. Lower the temperature. Cool the victim's head - conscious or unconscious - with an ice pack or wet clothes. This can prevent brain swelling. Monitor body temperature to protect the victim from extreme temperatures.
7. Allow the victim to rest. If the victim wants to sleep, wake him up every 15 minutes for the first two hours, every half hour for the next two hours, and then every hour.
   • Whenever you wake up the victim, do the ASPU test as described above. That can be annoying for the victim and tiring for you, but the safety of the victim is paramount.
   • If the victim doesn't wake up, treat him like an unconscious person.
8. Continue the treatment. Very little is known about the effects of concussion on the brain and cognitive functioning. However, some treatments can lessen lingering consequences.
   • Some forms of neurotherapy, including an EEG, have been proven to help. Consult your doctor or neurologist to find out if this treatment can help you.
   • Much is known about post-concussion syndrome. Victims can suffer from the symptoms for months or even years. These symptoms can improve greatly, but never completely disappear.
   • Rest regularly and avoid any form of exertion or movement of the head.