Whenever a concussion is suspected, it’s important to have the casualty assessed by a medical professional to rule out a more serious head injury or spinal injury. The first aid treatment for concussion includes carrying out the Primary and Secondary Survey, monitoring the casualty for worsening symptoms, and stabilising the head and neck until professional help arrives.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or strong jolt to the head. A casualty may temporarily lose consciousness after sustaining the injury, but remember, a casualty may still be concussed even if they did not lose consciousness at all.
Concussion signs and symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of concussion can include:
- A visible injury to the head, such as swelling or a bleeding wound
- Headache
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Blurry vision
- Clumsiness, dizziness, or loss of balance
- Fatigue or drowsiness
Concussion treatment: first aid
The first aid treatment for concussion includes following the Primary and Secondary Survey treatment processes and monitoring the casualty for worsening symptoms until they can be assessed by a medical professional.
First aid treatment for a concussion includes the following:
- Because a blow to the head can result in an accompanying spinal injury, it’s advisable to stabilise the casualty’s head and neck until help arrives.
- Treat all other obvious wounds or injuries.
- Keep the casualty warm.
- Keep the casualty calm by telling them that help is on the way and you are there for them.
- Hand over to the emergency services or paramedics when they arrive.
- Clean up the scene afterwards and complete a casualty report form including all information.
Primary Survey: DRABCD
D – Danger
R – Response
A – Airway
B – Breathing
C – Call and Circulation
D – Defibrillation
Secondary Survey: SAMPLE
S – Signs and symptoms
A – Allergies
M – Medications
P – Past illnesses
L – Last oral intake
E – Events leading up to the concussion
Head-to-Toe ExaminationUsing your hands to feel for injuries or abnormalities, carefully perform a head-to-toe examination, paying special attention to the casualty’s head and neck. The trauma that caused the concussion may also have caused a spinal injury, so it is important to keep the casualty’s head and neck stabilised until paramedics arrive or until the casualty can be seen by a medical professional.
How to differentiate a serious head injury from a mild concussion
The severity of a head injury can be difficult for a First Aider to ascertain, which is why it is advisable to seek professional medical attention even when a mild concussion is suspected. Call for emergency help immediately if any of the following signs and symptoms indicating a serious head injury are present:
- Worsening condition or diminishing level of consciousness (LOC)
- Difficulty staying awake
- Coma or unconsciousness
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Mismatched or unequal pupil sizes
- Seizures (fits)
- Clear fluid leaking from the nose, mouth, or ear
- A dent or visible open wound to the head and skull
Is a concussion dangerous?
While a concussion is considered a mild brain injury, it can be dangerous. If a concussion is suspected, it’s important to have the casualty assessed by a medical professional as soon as possible to rule out a more serious brain injury.
Can a concussed casualty continue playing sport?
Should a casualty be concussed as a result of playing a contact sport like rugby, it is critical that they do not return to the game and continue playing before being assessed by a medical professional. Receiving another blow to the head before having fully recovered from a prior concussion can lead to ‘Second Impact Syndrome’, a serious condition that can lead to further damage, severe brain damage, or even death.
Get hands-on first aid training with First Aid, Fire and Safety Training.
When it comes to first aid training, there’s no substitute for hands-on practice under the guidance of an experienced professional. Our first aid instructors are registered paramedics and experienced facilitators who are passionate about sharing lifesaving first aid skills and knowledge. Our First Aid NQF Level 1 course includes both theoretical and practical elements and is presented over two days. Get in touch for more info or book your spot online.