A concussion occurs when the head is hit by a blow that shakes the brain in the space between the brain and the skull. Concussion is the most common type of head injury. A concussion can occur as a result of a vehicle accident, an injury during sports, a fall, or a severe shock to the head or upper body. While most concussions are temporary and don't cause lasting damage, they can lead to serious problems if not treated quickly and effectively.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Knowing If Someone Has A Concussion
Step 1. Check the victim
Examine the wound and watch him closely. Check for any bleeding wounds on the victim's head. A concussion may not bleed on the surface, but a "goose egg" or hematoma (a large bruise) will appear under the scalp.
- External wounds that are clearly visible are not always a guide to detecting a concussion because small wounds that occur on the scalp can bleed a lot. On the other hand, injuries that look less serious can cause severe brain damage.
- You should look for some physical symptoms such as signs of a basilar skull fracture, Battle's sign (an area of bruising and swelling that appears several days after the skull fracture due to blood leaking into the area behind the ear), raccoon eyes (area around the ear). blackened eyes), and rhinorrhea (leakage of cerebrospinal fluid).
Step 2. Check the victim's physical symptoms
A mild or severe concussion can cause several physical symptoms. Look for any of the following symptoms:
- Unconscious.
- Severe headache.
- Sensitive to light.
- Blurred or double vision.
- Such as seeing "stars", spots, or other visual anomalies.
- Loss of coordination and balance.
- Vertigo.
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs and arms.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Amnesia.
- Experiencing confusion.
Step 3. Check for cognitive symptoms
Concussion is a problem that occurs in the brain so that brain function will usually be disrupted. Some of the problems that can arise include:
- Angry or excited not as usual.
- Not interested or having trouble with concentration, logic, and memory.
- Mood swings, emotional outbursts, or inappropriate crying.
- Lethargy or drowsiness.
Step 4. Check his consciousness
When examining a concussion, you should know whether the victim is conscious or not, and know their cognitive state. To check the victim's level of consciousness, try using the ASNT (or AVPU in English) method:
- A (Warning) - Is the victim in a state of alert (Alert)? - Did the victim pay attention to you? Was your question answered? Does the victim respond to normal environmental stimuli?
- S (Voice) - Does he respond to sound (Voice)? - Does the victim respond when spoken to, even if the response is small and not really alert? Do you have to scream for him to respond? It is possible that the victim can respond to verbal commands, but is not alert. If he answered "Huh?" when you talk to him, it means that he is verbally responsive, but not alert.
- N (Pain) - Does he respond to pain (Pain) or touch? Pinch her skin to see if she makes a movement or opens her eyes. Another technique is to poke and pierce the base of the nail (nail bed). Be careful when doing so, lest your actions cause unnecessary harm to the victim. Your goal is only to provoke a physical response from the victim.
- Q (Unresponsive) - Is the victim unresponsive to anything you do?
Step 5. Keep an eye on the victim after that
Most concussion symptoms occur within minutes of the injury. Other symptoms appeared several hours later. Some symptoms may change a few days later. Monitor the victim and contact a doctor immediately if symptoms change or get worse.
Part 2 of 3: Treating a Minor Concussion
Step 1. Use ice
Apply an ice pack (frozen gel that is placed in a leak-proof container) on the affected area to reduce swelling caused by minor injuries. Apply ice every 2-4 hours, for 20-30 minutes.
- Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the ice in a cloth or plastic first. If you don't have ice, you can use frozen vegetables.
- Do not apply pressure to a head trauma wound, as bone fragments can be pushed into the brain.
Step 2. Take pain medication
To treat headaches at home, take acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen because they can make bruising or bleeding worse.
Step 3. Stay focused
When the victim is conscious, ask several questions continuously. This serves two purposes: assessing the extent of the victim's damage, and keeping the victim awake. By continuing to ask questions, you can detect cognitive changes in the victim if he or she is unable to answer questions that previously could have been answered. If the victim's cognitive condition changes and gets worse, seek medical help. Some good questions include:
- What date is today?
- Where are you?
- What happened?
- What is your name?
- Are you okay?
- Can you repeat the words I'm about to mention?
Step 4. Stay with the victim
During the first 24 hours, always accompany the victim. Don't leave him alone. Monitor the victim's physical and cognitive function for any changes. If the victim wants to sleep, wake him or her every quarter hour for the first 2 hours, then every half hour for the next 2 hours, then every hour.
- Each time you wake the victim, perform the ASNT test as described above. You should monitor his cognitive and physical condition constantly in case any symptoms appear later or get worse.
- If the victim does not respond when awakened, treat him as an unconscious person.
Step 5. Avoid strenuous activities
For several days after a concussion, do not engage in strenuous activity or exercise. During this time, avoid situations that can stress you out. The brain needs to rest and heal. Maybe you should consult a doctor first before exercising.
Doing regular activities too early increases the risk of reoccurring concussions and dementia problems (damage or disease to the brain) in the long term
Step 6. Avoid driving a vehicle
Do not drive or ride a bicycle until you are completely healed. Ask someone to take you to and from the hospital or doctor's clinic.
Step 7. Rest
Don't watch television, read, play cell phones, listen to music, play video games, or perform other mental tasks. You must rest, either physically or mentally.
Step 8. Eat brain-healthy foods
Food can affect the brain's healing process positively or negatively. Don't drink alcohol after a concussion. Also avoid fried foods, sugar, caffeine, and artificial colors and flavours. Instead, eat the following foods:
- Avocado.
- Blueberries.
- Coconut oil.
- Seeds and nuts.
- Salmon.
- Butter, eggs and cheese.
- Honey.
- The fruits and vegetables you like.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with a Severe Concussion
Step 1. Call the doctor
Any condition suspected of being a head injury or concussion should be evaluated by a medical professional. What looks like a minor head injury can be fatal. Take the victim to the nearest doctor if he experiences a number of minor symptoms, but it looks harmless.
Call an ambulance if the victim is unconscious or you don't know the exact extent of the damage. If you want to carry a head trauma victim using a vehicle, then you have to move him. This action should not be performed if the victim's head has not been stabilized. Moving a person with head trauma can result in death
Step 2. Take the victim to the hospital
If the victim has signs of a severe concussion after a blow to the head, take the person to the ER immediately. The hospital will perform a CT scan and examine the brain for bruising and swelling. Take the victim to the ER immediately if he or she experiences any of these symptoms:
- Unconscious, even for a moment.
- Have amnesia (memory loss).
- Feeling dazed or confused.
- Great headache.
- Vomiting repeatedly.
- Seizures.
Step 3. Stay still and don't make it move
If you think that the concussion victim has also suffered a neck or spinal injury, do not move him or her while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Moving the victim can make the injury worse.
If you are forced to move the victim, do this with extreme care. As much as possible do not move the victim's head and back
Step 4. Do the next step
Call your doctor if your symptoms don't improve after 7-10 days. If at any time your symptoms change or get worse, call your doctor.
Step 5. Continue treatment
Not much is known about the effects of concussion on the brain and cognitive function. However, some treatments prescribed by a doctor can relieve symptoms that do not go away for a long time.
The doctor may run several scans, such as a CT, MRI, or EEG. The doctor may also perform neurological tests (related to nerves) to evaluate the victim's vision, reflexes, hearing, and coordination. Another test that may be performed is a cognitive test, which is used to check concentration, memory, and memory
Tips
- Patients should not exercise on the same day they have a concussion. Athletes should not exercise first if the symptoms have not gone away or are still taking medication. A more conservative approach should be taken if this occurs in children and adolescents.
- Take precautions, such as wearing a helmet when playing football, rugby, baseball, ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding.
