If someone has had a head injury then treat the injury as you would any other injury, by cleaning and dressing the wound and keeping the casualty still and warm until they feel better.
However, they should be sent to hospital if any of the following apply:-
- Unconsciousness or lack of full consciousness, even if the person has now recovered
- Any clear fluid running from the ears or nose
- Bleeding from one or both ears
- Bruising behind one or both ears
- Any signs of skull damage or a penetrating head injury
- The injury was caused by a forceful blow to the head at speed (for example, a pedestrian hit by a car, a car or bicycle crash, a fall of 1 metre or more, or a fall down more than 5 stairs)
- The person has had previous brain surgery
- The person has had previous problems with uncontrollable bleeding or a blood clotting disorder or is taking a drug that may cause bleeding problems (for example, an anticoagulant)
- The person is intoxicated by drugs or alcohol
- There are safeguarding concerns, for example about possible non-accidental injury or because a vulnerable person is affected