Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How to Identify a Concussion in a Person
• Part 2 of 3: Treating a Minor Concussion
• Part 3 of 3: Treating a Severe Concussion

A concussion is the shaking of the brain inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head. This type of head injury is the most common. Concussion can occur as a result of a car accident, sports injury, falls, or violent shaking of the head or upper body. While concussion is most often a temporary, non-irreversible condition, concussion can lead to serious concomitant problems if not treated promptly and appropriately.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How to Identify a Concussion in a Person

1. 1 Assess the condition of the victim. Examine the wound and look at it carefully. Check for a bleeding head wound. Concussions may not bleed on the surface, but may form a "goose egg" or hematoma (large bruise) under the scalp.
   • Visible external damage is not always a good indicator, as very minor head wounds can bleed profusely, while less visible trauma can lead to serious brain damage.
2. 2 Check for physical symptoms. Mild to severe concussions can cause many physical symptoms. Look for any of the following symptoms:
   • Loss of consciousness
   • Strong headache
   • Light sensitivity
   • Diplopia or blurred vision
   • The victim sees stars, spots, or other visual anomalies
   • Loss of coordination and balance
   • Dizziness
   • Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs and arms
   • Nausea and vomiting
3. 3 Check for cognitive symptoms. Because a concussion is brain damage, it often results in impaired brain function. These violations include:
   • Unusual irritability or irritability
   • Indifference or difficulty with concentration, logic, and memory
   • Mood swings or outbursts of inappropriate emotions and tearfulness
   • Sleepiness or lethargy
4. 4 Check if the person is conscious. When checking a person's condition, it is important to find out if he is conscious and to assess the level of his cognitive functions. To check if the person is conscious, answer the following test questions:
   • 1. Is the victim conscious? Can he see you? Does he answer your questions? Does it respond to normal external stimuli?
   • 2. Does the victim respond to the voice? Does he answer when asked, even if he answers quietly and not quite clearly? Do I need to shout at him for him to answer? The victim may respond to voice commands, but have poor judgment. If you address him, and he answers "huh?", It means that he can respond verbally, but not be in a clear consciousness.
   • 3. Does the victim respond to pain or touch? Pinch his skin to see if he twitches or opens his eyes. Another way is to pinch or poke into the area of ​​the nail bed. Be careful when doing this to avoid causing additional pain to the victim. Just try to get him to react physically.
   • 4. Does the victim react to anything?
5. 5 Monitor the condition of the victim. Most of the symptoms of a concussion appear within the first few minutes after an injury. Some appear after a few hours. Some symptoms may change after a few days. Do not leave the victim and call a doctor if symptoms worsen or change.

Part 2 of 3: Treating a Minor Concussion

1. 1 Apply ice. To reduce swelling in minor injuries, apply ice to the affected area. Apply ice every two to four hours, increasing the duration from 20 to 30 minutes.
   • Do not apply ice directly to your skin. Wrap it in cloth or plastic. If there is no ice, then use a bag of frozen vegetables.
   • Do not apply pressure to the site of the head injury so as not to injure the brain by pushing fragments of bone towards it.
2. 2 Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat your headache at home. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen as they may increase bruising or bleeding
3. 3 Concentrate. If the victim is conscious, ask him constantly questions. This serves two purposes: 1) helps to determine the degree of deterioration of the victim's condition; 2) helps the victim to remain conscious. As you continue to ask questions, you may become suspicious of changes in the victim's cognitive state if they stop answering the questions they previously answered. If your cognitive state changes and worsens, see your doctor. It is worth asking questions like this:
   • What day is today?
   • Where are you?
   • What happened to you?
   • What is your name?
   • How are you feeling?
   • Can you repeat the following words after me ...?
4. 4 Stay with the victim. Do not leave the victim for the first twenty-four hours. Don't leave him alone. Watch for any changes in physical and cognitive performance. If the victim wants to sleep, then wake him up every 15 minutes for the first 2 hours, then every half hour for the next 2 hours, then every hour.
   • Each time you wake the person up, ask him the verification questions above. His cognitive and physical condition should be constantly monitored for worsening or other symptoms.
   • If the victim, waking up, does not react, then treat him as an unconscious person.
5. 5 Avoid physical activity. Avoid sports and strenuous physical activity for several days after a concussion. Avoid stressful situations during this time. The brain needs to rest and heal. It may be worth consulting with your doctor before exercising.
6. 6 Don't drive. Do not operate any vehicle, even a bicycle, until you feel completely healthy. Ask someone to take you to the hospital (or to the doctor for a checkup) and drive you home.
7. 7 Get some rest. Don't read, watch TV, print, listen to music, play video games, or do any mental work. You must rest physically and mentally.
8. 8 Eat brain-friendly foods. Foods can affect brain healing both positively and negatively. Avoid alcohol after a concussion. Also avoid fried foods, sugar, caffeine, artificial colors and flavors. Eat the following foods instead:
   • Avocado
   • Blueberry
   • Coconut oil
   • Nuts and seeds.
   • Salmon
   • Butter, cheese and eggs
   • Honey
   • Any favorite fruits and vegetables.

Part 3 of 3: Treating a Severe Concussion

1. 1 See your doctor. Any head injury or suspected concussion should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. What may seem like a minor head injury can be fatal. If the victim does not regain consciousness, call an ambulance. Alternatively, take the victim to the nearest emergency room or medical facility.
   • If the victim is unconscious or you cannot assess the extent of the injury, call an ambulance. In order to deliver the victim to the hospital, you will need to move him, which in no case should be done until the head is fixed. Moving a victim with a head injury can be fatal.
2. 2 Go to the hospital. For severe concussions, you can take the victim to a medical facility. If the victim develops any of these symptoms, take them immediately to the emergency room:
   • Loss of consciousness (even short-term)
   • Periods of amnesia
   • Twilight or confused consciousness
   • Strong headache
   • Frequent vomiting
   • Seizure
3. 3 Stay in place and avoid movement. If you think that a concussion is accompanied by a neck or spinal injury, do not move the victim while waiting for the arrival of paramedics. By moving a person, you can injure him even more.
   • If you still need to move the person, then do it very carefully. Try to move your head and back as little as possible.
4. 4 Monitor your well-being. If your symptoms do not improve within 7-10 days, see your doctor. Whenever your symptoms worsen or change, contact your doctor
5. 5 Continue treatment. Very little is known about the effects of concussion on cognitive function. However, some treatments prescribed by your doctor can improve the residual effects.
   • Your doctor may order some tests, including MRI, CT, or EEG. The doctor may also do a neurological test to assess the state of vision, hearing, reflexes, and coordination.Another study that could be done is a cognitive test that tests memory, concentration and attention.