Here are a few tips about head injury prevention:
1.) Wearing a helmet when
- Riding a bike, snowmobile, scooter, or all-terrain vehicle.
- Playing a contact sport, such as football, ice hockey, or boxing.
- Using in-line skates or riding a skateboard.
- Batting and running bases in baseball or softball.
- Riding a horse.
- Skiing or snowboarding.
2.) Making indoor living areas safer for children, by
- Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows.
- Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.
3.) Making outdoor areas safer for children, by
- Making sure the surface on your child's playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood mulch or sand.
- Making sure large, dead branches are trimmed from play areas.
- Removing sharp objects or trash from grass and sand boxes.
- Checking for tripping hazards.
Even though parents are concerned with safety and take precautions, almost all children bump their heads every now and then. However, most head injuries are minor and do not cause serious problems. In rare cases, problems can occur after a minor bump on the head. The following will help parents understand the difference between a head injury that needs only a comforting hug and one that requires immediate medical attention.
Q: What should you do if your child has a head injury but does not lose consciousness?
A: Call your child’s doctor for anything more than a slight bump on the head or if your child is younger than 2 years of age.
(If your child is alert and responds to you, the head injury is probably mild and usually no tests or x-rays are needed. You may need to apply a cold compress for 20 minutes to help the swelling go down.)
Q: What if there are changes in my child's condition?
A: If there are any changes in your child's condition, call your child's doctor right away. You may need to bring your child to the doctor's office or directly to the hospital.
The following are signs of a more serious injury:
- A constant headache, particularly one that gets worse
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Dizziness that does not go away or happens repeatedly
- Extreme irritability or other abnormal behavior
- Vomiting more than 2 or 3 times
- Stumbling or difficulty walking
- Oozing blood or watery fluid from the nose or ears
- Difficulty waking up or excessive sleepiness
- Double vision or blurry vision
- Unusual paleness that lasts for more than an hour
- Convulsions (seizures)
- Difficulty recognizing familiar people
- Weakness of arms or leg
- Persistent ringing in the ears
A: If your child loses consciousness, call 911 or take the child to ER immediately.
Q: What if my child gets worse while being observed at home?
A: If your child gets worse, call 911 to bring the child to the hospital if he experiences any of the following:
- Vomits more than 2 or 3 times
- Cannot stop crying
- Has a worsening headache
- Looks sicker
- Has a hard time walking, talking, or seeing
- Is confused or not acting normally
- Becomes drowsy, or is hard to wake up
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They are conveniently located at 2565 Cowan Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, and they can be reached at (540) 289-2273.
