A child has hit his head - when should you see a doctor, and in what cases can you get by with applying a towel with ice? We will talk about this and the alarming symptoms in children after falls below.
Why do babies hit their heads most often?
Mechanical injuries to the skull are one of the most common reasons for frightened parents to visit traumatology departments. This is not at all due to children’s “pin-butt”, but due to the special children’s anatomy.
The fact is that in children under the age of five, the head weighs about a quarter of the weight of the entire body. Accordingly, when falling, it hits first. Since there is no instinct of self-preservation yet and coordination is poorly developed, the baby does not put his hands in front of him in flight, hence the increased likelihood of a concussion and other troubles.
Children are saved from severe head injuries when falling by “fontanelles” that do not heal until they are one year old, and a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull, which can soften the fall.
Fortunately, most falls result only in fear and bruises for children and frayed nerves for parents. And yet, everyone should know the warning signs when it is necessary to provide first aid to the baby.
How to recognize the risk of impact?
When babies begin to crawl and then walk, they very often stumble, hit, fall (and often from a height greater than their height), resulting in bumps, abrasions, hematomas and bruises on the head. How can one accurately recognize how dangerous this particular blow or bump is to a fidget’s health? Should I show my child to a pediatrician, neurologist, or go straight to the emergency department of traumatology?
Frontal head injury
If, after falling or hitting an obstacle, a huge bump on the baby's forehead swells, this is quite normal. Severe swelling is caused by a large number of blood vessels bursting during mechanical trauma in the soft tissues of the skull. Hematomas on the forehead are most often round in shape, they quickly subside and stop bothering the fidget and his parents, in most cases they do not have serious consequences.
However, all this is true for older children; falling and hitting the baby’s head should not be ignored - take the baby to the pediatrician, even if you think that there is no danger. An experienced doctor will examine the baby and reassure the parents.
Trauma to the back of the head
A blow to the back of the head is a serious reason to go to the emergency room of the pediatric traumatology department or to a pediatrician: often such injuries have quite serious consequences. And the younger the baby, the sooner you need to see a doctor; delay can cost the child his sight, because in the occipital part of the skull there are nerve endings connecting the visual center of the brain and the eyeballs.
In addition to vision problems, the child may have impaired coordination of movements and develop tremors. There is a high probability of neurological developmental abnormalities.
First aid for mechanical injuries of the skull
After a fall, do not hesitate to inspect the injured area and assess the severity of the injury. Then provide first aid and, if necessary, call an ambulance. If the lump or cut on the head is very large and looks scary, take a photo of the wound on your mobile phone for the doctor (swelling of the soft tissues on the head can go away very quickly).
If a large lump or hematoma appears on the baby’s head
Calm the baby and apply a cold compress or just a bottle of cold water wrapped in a thin cloth to the injury site. Keep the compress on for five minutes and remove it for two to three minutes (to restore blood circulation). This will ease the pain a little and stop internal bleeding. Then apply the compress again for five minutes. Repeat these steps for about 20-30 minutes - it is during this time that the final formation of the hematoma occurs.
If there is a bleeding abrasion on the forehead or back of the head
Use a sterile cotton swab or a piece of bandage moistened with hydrogen peroxide to treat the abrasion, stop the bleeding by simply pressing a clean, dry bandage onto the wound (press lightly for three to five minutes).
For a child over two years old who can tolerate a slight tingling, the abrasion can be disinfected with rubbing alcohol, vodka, or washed with soap.
If blood continues to flow despite all manipulations, call an ambulance.
If after the fall you find no damage
Behave as usual, calm the baby and caress him. Constantly watch his behavior - any oddities should alert you. The child may begin to be capricious, complain of headaches and nausea, get tired quickly and sleep unusually long - all these are alarm bells indicating a possible concussion or neurological problems.
If your child cries after hitting his head, complains of nausea and migraines, loses consciousness and is uncoordinated, call an ambulance immediately.
How to behave if there is a slight suspicion of a concussion?
If your baby is old enough to explain his condition to his parents (he can tell where he hurts, that he feels nauseous or dizzy), and you see no compelling reason to take him to the doctor, but doubts remain, just watch.
- Immediately after the fall, calm the baby down and put him in bed, keep him busy with quiet games and stories, and read a book. Explain that everything is fine, but now you need to lie still for a while.
- Monitor your baby for several hours for any warning signs. Don't let yourself fall asleep for at least three to four hours: in your sleep you can miss the deterioration of the concussion.
- If the child is very young, wake him up at night and monitor his coordination of movements.
- Observe the fidget for three to four days: if no alarming signs were noticed during this period, then the injury passed without complications.
Bad Signs of a Head Injury
Any bruise of the skull requires careful long-term observation by parents at home or doctors in a hospital. To be on the safe side after an injury, if you decide to leave your baby at home, exclude his physical and mental stress: prohibit him from reading, watching TV or playing on the computer. The exception is quiet classical music. If the complications described below occur, take your baby to the pediatrician.
Alarming symptoms after a blow to the frontal part of the skull
After hitting the forehead or falling face down, the baby may experience the following symptoms, indicating dangerous complications:
- a depression (dent) on the forehead instead of the usual bump;
- abnormally large lump;
- vomiting and nausea;
- dizziness, fainting;
- uncontrollable crying, hysterics;
- hard breath;
- paleness of facial skin;
- cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;
- enlarged pupils, the appearance of strabismus;
- lethargy and lethargy;
- difficulty speaking;
- incoordination, stiffness of movements;
- bleeding from the ear or nose.
If a child exhibits at least one of these symptoms after hitting his head, call an ambulance immediately!
Place your baby on a sofa or bed on his back or side (for babies who are unable to roll over on their side if they vomit) and do not give any medications yourself: this can make it very difficult for doctors to diagnose.
Alarming symptoms after a blow to the back of the head
Occipital mechanical injuries can cause all of the above signs, as well as the following symptoms:
- numbness of the limbs;
- memory loss;
- double image in the eyes;
- loss of consciousness;
- severe headaches and dizziness.
According to statistics, it is the occipital injuries of the skull that most often lead to concussions, so they must be taken seriously.
Kids fall backward when they begin to move independently, with light jolts and loss of balance, while teenagers fall during fights, while roller skating or regular skating. Older children should be required to wear a helmet on their head to prevent injury.
Possible consequences
The head is one of the most important and vulnerable parts of our body, which is why injuries to the skull can have irreversible consequences that cause trouble for a lifetime. After head impacts, the child should be monitored. It is quite possible that he will become whiny, begin to sleep poorly and learn school material worse.
Consequences of injury to the frontal part of the skull
There are several types of injuries after a blow to the forehead:
- Open - soft tissues and bones of the skull are damaged, the injury is accompanied by bleeding and loss of consciousness, painful shock. In these cases, immediate hospitalization is necessary.
- Closed - soft tissue and bone are intact. They come in varying degrees of severity and require different treatment tactics.
- Brain contusion is a serious condition, usually accompanied by prolonged loss of consciousness, nose or ear bleeding. Bruises appear around the eyes, speech is difficult. One of the facial nerves responsible for facial expressions may be affected.
- A concussion is a common condition that occurs after severe trauma to the skull. It is characterized by vomiting and constant nausea, dizziness, bluish lips and pale skin on the face. In some cases, these symptoms may not be present, but an unusually poor, restless night's sleep is a reason to consult a doctor. In case of a concussion, a week of bed rest with a minimum of brain activity is prescribed.
- Hematoma or lump accompanied by soft tissue swelling. The baby does not cry for long; soon after the pain is eliminated, he calms down and forgets about the incident.
Consequences of trauma to the occipital part of the skull
In addition to the above complications, blows to the back of the head can have the following consequences:
- absent-mindedness, inattention;
- incoordination of movements on one side (usually the one where the blow landed);
- memory impairment;
- insomnia;
- the appearance of constant migraines.
How to avoid injuries?
- Never leave your baby on a sofa, a bed without sides or a changing table - he can instantly fall. It’s better to sit him on the floor or in his crib.
- If you are sitting on the sofa with a baby, place a couple of large pillows on the floor - this will soften the fall in case of your oversight.
- Always secure your baby with a seat belt when using a stroller or car seat.
- When your child begins to learn to walk, a thick carpet will come to your aid - your feet won't slip on it, and falling won't hurt as much.
- Buy socks with rubber bumps on the soles for your fidget - this will make it easier for him to walk and prevent him from falling.
- Make your child wear a helmet when rollerblading, skating, biking, or scootering.
- Make your apartment as safe as possible: buy rubber pads for sharp corners of furniture.
All children love outdoor games. One thing is bad: laughter and happy screams often turn into tears, because jumping and running often lead to injuries. But scratches rarely cause concern among parents. Everyone knows how to provide first aid if a child is not seriously injured: it is enough to treat the problem area with an antiseptic or bruise ointment and monitor the condition of the injured area of skin until it heals.
But when a child hits his head during a fall, many parents begin to panic. This is due to the fact that children's bones are not as strong as those of adults, and the baby can easily get a concussion or damage the skull.
What to do if a child hits his head? What should you pay attention to first? How can I help? Which doctor should I visit? Parents begin to frantically search for answers to these questions, especially if the baby lands completely unsuccessfully.
Are head impacts dangerous for a child?
Young children fall all the time when they are learning to walk, playing, or fooling around. The consequences may vary. For some, everything ends well, for others - with serious bruises and abrasions.
A child's body is structured differently than an adult's. Nature itself must have taken care of the child’s safety. There is a large amount of fluid between the baby's brain and cranial bones. In the event of a fall, it protects the main organ of the central nervous system from damage. The presence of a non-ossified part of the skull also helps to mitigate the consequences of an unsuccessful landing. The fontanel is capable of absorbing the force of an impact.
The risk of serious head injury from a fall depends on age. The younger the child, the more fragile his skull bones are. This means that the chance of getting a dangerous brain injury increases.
If your baby falls and hits his head, you should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, select treatment that will help avoid serious consequences of the injury.
Is hitting the back of the head dangerous for a child?
If your child hits the back of his head during a fall, you should start to worry. Such a landing is fraught with serious consequences:
- open or closed craniocerebral injury;
- concussion;
- bruise of brain tissue;
- deformation of the skull and subsequent compression of the main organ of the central nervous system.
In rare cases, children experience blurred vision and impaired coordination.
It is worth noting, however, the following: if a child hits the back of his head, the consequences will not always be dire. The result of a fall can be a simple bump or bruise. However, you need to know if any warning signs appear and you should immediately consult a doctor. As the saying goes,
Symptoms of brain injury include:
- the appearance of nausea and vomiting;
- loss of consciousness;
- acute headache;
- increased sweating;
- trembling in the arms and legs;
- darkening of the eyes;
- pallor.
If you discover one of these symptoms, do not delay your visit to a specialist so as not to worsen the child’s condition.
What other symptoms could there be?
If a child hits his head, what should you pay attention to? Observe the behavior and appearance of the victim. Try to keep him awake for 2-3 hours after the fall to be able to promptly notice the appearance of alarming symptoms, including:
- increased drowsiness;
- feeling sluggish;
- irritability or tearfulness uncharacteristic for a child;
- different reaction of pupils to light;
- dizziness;
- problems maintaining balance;
- the appearance of tinnitus;
- decreased appetite;
- bleeding from the nose or ears;
- sleep disturbance;
- deterioration of vision, hearing;
- bruises under the eyes;
- dilated pupils for no apparent reason;
- blood in urine and stool.
The child hit his head: what to do?
The ability to provide proper first aid is the key to ensuring that the baby does not have serious complications. If a child falls head down, it is necessary to examine the site of the injury, determine the severity of the injury and treat the wound, if any.
First aid will depend on the type of injury the baby received. If he needs to apply a compress. Take ice, frozen fruits, vegetables or meat from the refrigerator. Wrap in cotton cloth or gauze and apply to the damaged area. The compress should be kept for 3-5 minutes. It will help soothe pain and relieve swelling.
You can use magnesium instead of ice. The powder should be dissolved in water, a piece of sterile gauze should be soaked in it and applied to the bump. The procedure should be repeated three times a day. Magnesium sulfate will relieve swelling and reduce pain.
The hematoma can be treated with ointment for bruises and contusions. The drugs “Spasatel”, “Troxevasin”, “Sinyak-OFF” will help to cope with the injury in a short time.
Help with abrasions and bleeding
Did your child hit their head with an open wound? What to pay attention to when providing assistance?
See if there is any bleeding. If the damage is serious, trim the hair around it so that it does not interfere with the treatment and does not provoke the onset of the inflammatory process.
Clean the wound with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. If there is bleeding from the damaged area, apply a compress with an antiseptic for 10 minutes.
After this time, lubricate the skin around the wound with iodine or brilliant green. Make sure that the product does not get on the injured area. Burning the tissue will only slow down the healing process.
If the bleeding has not stopped within 10 minutes, call an ambulance.
First aid in the absence of visible damage
If a child hits his head, but upon examination you find no external injuries, do not rush to rejoice. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may take several hours to appear.
Limit your child's physical and mental activity. On the day of the fall, do not allow him to sit at the computer, read too much, or watch TV. Let the baby lie down and rest as much as possible.
How to help if a child hits his head? What should I pay attention to if there is no external damage? Observe the baby's behavior and condition. Monitor the quality of his sleep and appetite. Find out how he feels.
If you suspect a traumatic brain injury, contact your doctor immediately.
The child hit his head. Consequences of the impact: what could they be?
Even a slight blow to the head can have very unpleasant consequences:
- disruption of the functioning of the main organ of the central nervous system due to injury;
- increased blood pressure due to improper regulation of vascular tone;
- circulatory disorders;
- cystic formations;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- followed by atrophy.
The severity of the consequences depends on how serious the injury was. Timely treatment plays an important role. If the therapeutic course was started when the traumatic brain injury was in an advanced state, the recovery period will be long and the consequences will be severe.
Visit to the doctor
Head injuries after a fall are dealt with by a pediatric traumatologist or surgeon. The specialist will begin the examination with general questions about the child’s well-being. Find out what symptoms of traumatic brain injury have appeared. If your suspicions are confirmed, the child will be hospitalized.
The hospital will conduct a comprehensive examination, which will accurately determine whether the baby has internal injuries and find out how serious the child’s condition is.
- Neurosonography. Used for children 1-1.5 years old. Allows you to examine the structure of the brain using ultrasound through the fontanel. Examination with this device has no negative consequences.
- Lumbar puncture. Cerebrospinal fluid is taken for analysis if intracranial hemorrhage is suspected.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the head (MRI). The most informative and safest way of examination. Shows whether changes have occurred in brain tissue.
- Computed tomography. X-ray examination. You can undergo this procedure no more than twice a year. Creates an X-ray image of a section of the brain, allowing you to accurately assess the condition of the organ.
In early childhood, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head are performed under general anesthesia. This is due to the fact that during the examination it is necessary to remain in a motionless position for a long time. It is very difficult for a child not to move for a long period.
If a child hits his head, do not immediately panic. Try to provide first aid. Observe the baby's condition. If you notice alarming symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Timely treatment will help bring the child’s health in order in a short time and relieve the negative consequences of the injury.
Parents should definitely be aware that even the smallest children are in danger of falling from the sofa or changing table. Therefore, it is imperative to protect the baby and place pillows next to the sofa or at least have a carpet on the floor.
But what should you do if your baby falls on the floor and hits her head?
First and most important- turn all your attention to the baby. Try to calm down and understand that your child’s health depends on the adequacy of your actions and ability to soberly assess the situation. In no case should you look for someone to blame at this moment and start swearing; a stressful situation will only harm the child. So that he calms down quickly and you can check his condition, address him kindly and tenderly.
A child's skull is extremely vulnerable, because the bones have not yet grown together and become stronger, and therefore can be easily damaged. Meanwhile, the head is exactly the place where the main blow falls, since in a baby it is quite heavy in relation to the body. And if you fall, the first thing you need to do is inspect your head for damage.
The child fell from the sofa about 30 cm high
In this case, it is possible that a bump or bruise will appear on the baby’s head. Be sure to watch his reaction. If in such a situation the baby cries for 10-15 minutes, and then calms down on its own and then behaves as usual, and no other signs appear, then you do not need to worry and do not seek medical help. But help the child.
First aid. Apply ice wrapped in several layers of towel to the damaged area, making sure that it does not become too cold. This manipulation will help resolve the inflammation, but do not hold this compress for more than 10 minutes.
The child fell from the changing table with a height of more than 40 cm
In this case, several scenarios are possible.
- The child loses consciousness, turns pale, begins to sweat, or begins to vomit. In this situation, a concussion is likely. You also need to look into the baby’s eyes in the light and evaluate the size of his pupils. If the pupils are of different sizes, sharply narrowed or dilated, then this is a very dangerous symptom. Also, with a concussion, a child may cry constantly, be very capricious and refuse to eat. Call an ambulance immediately.
First aid. While you are waiting for the doctor, the child should be placed on a hard surface on his side (so that vomit does not enter the respiratory tract); he should not be placed to the chest or rocked in his arms. Don't let him fall asleep and don't force him to take painkillers until he's examined by a doctor. If there is bleeding from an abrasion, it must be stopped with a dry, clean towel.
- If a severe traumatic brain injury occurs, there may be a prolonged loss of consciousness, and the child may have trouble breathing. If you have a skull fracture, you may bleed from the nose and ears or leak cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid), and bruises may appear under your eyes. But these signs usually do not appear immediately - it will take from one to two hours before signs of a fracture appear.
First aid. Call an ambulance immediately if a child loses consciousness even for a few seconds after a fall. Monitor the child's condition very closely so as not to miss if bleeding suddenly begins (within 2 hours). Don't let him sleep until the doctor arrives. Place your baby's back on a hard, flat surface. Do not allow the baby to rock and do not put him to the breast. You can apply a cold compress (towel soaked in cold water) to the site of the bruise, if there is no swelling or damage to soft tissues.
If an ambulance took the child to the hospital, then there you will need to contact a neurologist, traumatologist and neurosurgeon.
If necessary, the same hospital will issue you a referral for an ultrasound, computed tomography or radiography, if necessary.
And, of course, remember that it is easier to prevent trouble than to correct the consequences. Therefore, never leave your baby alone on the changing table or on the sofa. And may you not have such emergencies!
The energy of children contributes not only to understanding the world, but also to receiving various types of injuries. In babies with uncoordinated movements, the head mostly suffers. When preparing for the arrival of a new family member, it is worth assessing the home environment in terms of the presence of traumatic items (for example, furniture with sharp corners) and try to remove them.
But this will not completely protect the young researcher, because he can fall even on a flat floor while learning to walk. If a child hits his head, you should quickly, without panicking, assess the severity of the injury. It depends on the strength and location of the impact whether it will be just a bump or whether it is worth rushing to the hospital.
Indeed, often a blow to the forehead is accompanied only by a bruise of soft tissues - a bump appears on the child’s head. It forms in the same way as any bruise, but it will be convex due to a large number of small vessels that burst and fill nearby tissues with blood.
Serious injuries from such a blow are unlikely, since the strong frontal bone reliably protects the head. But you should play it safe and call a pediatrician if your newborn hits his forehead. The younger the victim, the more serious consequences a hematoma on the forehead can have.
However, a strong blow can cause a traumatic brain injury. The open injury is obvious: there is a wound on the head and obvious bone damage. It is treated surgically in combination with medication.
With a closed injury, the skin and bones are externally intact, but there are internal injuries, the signs of which should be known.
Closed head injuries vary in severity:
- With a brain injury, loss of consciousness usually occurs and breathing is impaired. You may experience ear or nosebleeds, dark circles around the eyes, problems with speech, and disturbances in facial expressions due to damage to the facial nerve. To treat a mild bruise, a course of medications is prescribed, but only a surgeon can eliminate the consequences of a severe bruise.
- Concussions from impact are diagnosed frequently by doctors and can usually be treated with medication without further complications. If a concussion occurs, a child may be unconscious for several minutes and then experience nausea, vomiting, and headache. If the doctor has prescribed medications and prescribed home bed rest, but the patient has persistent restless sleep or other alarming signs, it would be useful to call a pediatrician at home.
- A skull fracture can be suspected by bloody discharge from the ears and nostrils. You should immediately go to the hospital to have an x-ray done. Treatment in this case involves surgery followed by medication.
A blow to the back of the head is no less dangerous
A blow to the back of the head can cause visual impairment. The occipital lobe of the brain is responsible for the functioning of the visual organs. Moreover, the consequences may not appear immediately, but after some time. Therefore, even if there are no complaints from the victim, it would be wiser to quickly show him to a specialist who knows what to do if the child hits the back of his head.
A rare, but extremely unpleasant complication occurs if the child hits the back of the head on the left side. Sometimes victims develop disturbances in the perception of the surrounding space on the left, they begin to forget everything, sleep poorly, and suffer from headaches. Similar phenomena can be observed when the back of the head is damaged on the right.
A strong blow to the back of the head can cause traumatic brain injury in the same way as a blow to the forehead.
What should a mother do if her baby falls?
- Feel sorry for and calm the baby after a fall, and then examine him from all sides, starting from the head, for scratches, bruises, bleeding wounds on the forehead and the back of the head.
- Calm down yourself and evaluate whether the fall was really serious. If the baby slipped from the sofa onto the carpet and bumped, then he cries more from fear and gets off with a bruise. But if he fell out of the high stroller and hit his head on the asphalt, his mother should worry.
- The grown-up child is able to talk about what happened. You should ask him whether his head hurts or not, whether there is blurred vision. The pupils should not be constricted or dilated.
- Measure the pulse and compare the data with the age norm (in newborns it reaches 130-140 beats per minute, then becomes less frequent as they grow older). Deviations from the norm should alert you.
- Eliminate noisy entertainment and visual stress, but do not allow sleep. While sleeping, it will be more difficult to diagnose a concussion, if any.
- It must be borne in mind that if, after hitting a child, he does not cry for several minutes, then, most likely, he lost consciousness.
- Treat damaged skin. Small abrasions are disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, after which wound healing ointments are used. And if a child has a bump, then apply cooling compresses to it for 3 minutes to prevent swelling. In case of severe bleeding that could not be stopped within a quarter of an hour, as well as if the symptoms described above appear, you should call a doctor.
- Schedule a visit to the clinic soon. It is necessary to show a child who has hit his head to a pediatrician to assess his general condition, an ophthalmologist to rule out visual disturbances after a blow, and a neurosurgeon to receive a referral for a brain examination.
Warning signs that you shouldn't stay home
If a child falls and hits their head, the most frightening consequence is brain damage. Moreover, its signs may not appear instantly, but after a few hours.
You should call an ambulance immediately if the following symptoms appear:
- loss of consciousness;
- deviation of heart rate from the age norm;
- bleeding from the ears or nose;
- vomiting, diarrhea with traces of blood;
- blue or pale skin;
- darkened skin under the eyes and behind the ears;
- deterioration in coordination of movements, twitching, numbness of the limbs;
- change in pupil size, squint;
- lethargy, drowsiness, changes in sleep patterns and patterns, tearfulness;
- lack of appetite;
- the child's lump is too swollen or a depression appears instead of a lump.
While waiting for the doctor to arrive, you should put the baby to bed, while distracting him and not allowing him to fall asleep. When vomiting, it is better to turn it on its side so that liquid does not enter the respiratory tract. Painkillers taken before the doctor arrives may interfere with assessing the baby’s condition.
If a child falls on his back and hits himself, there is a possibility of a spinal injury; he must be handled very carefully to avoid additional displacement of the vertebrae.
What to expect when admitted to hospital
The doctor will examine the victim, ask him or his parents to tell him about the blow, clarify whether he hit the back of the head or the forehead, assess the damage and advise on further actions.
The baby will probably be sent for a CT scan of the brain to rule out hemorrhages and fractures.
Patients up to one and a half years old are examined through a fontanelle that is not yet closed.
How to protect your child's head from blows
You should always be on guard with a baby. This even applies to a newborn, who, it would seem, cannot even turn on his side. After all, it is the absence of a mother that can prompt a baby to learn to roll over right on the changing table.
Such tables are convenient for parents, but from a safety point of view, a large soft surface (a bed or a blanket spread on the floor) is preferable for changing clothes. Let the baby always be under supervision or in a safe area - in the playpen.
It is unwise to neglect seat belts in a stroller. Although the baby is not yet able to get out of it, nothing can guarantee that the stroller will not tip over if it hits a bump. The straps will keep the little passenger from falling onto the road. It is not for nothing that there are belts on high chairs, because a fall from such a height onto the floor or tiles can result in injury.
When the baby begins to explore the space at home and often bumps, you need to look at the surrounding objects from the height of his height and protect every sharp corner with silicone pads. For children learning to walk, there are special socks and tights with non-slip soles.
Kids often trip and hit themselves when going down the stairs, so you need to not let go of the child's hand. While climbing the steps, you also need to hold the baby’s hand or secure him from behind, as there is a danger of falling on his back.
Many injuries happen on the playground. It is dangerous to play next to older children; it is better to distract and take your baby away. If it is not possible to leave, then the mother should be near the child. You need to be especially vigilant near swings, carousels and other moving structures.
Children who have shown a desire to master roller skates or a balance bike must immediately be taught that they must wear a helmet. The young athlete should also be taught how to fall correctly.
Parents should know what to do if their child does hit their head. And you need to patiently explain to your children how important it is not to hit themselves. Infants simply need to be protected, and older children need to be taught household safety rules.
Often our children fall and we ask the question: “Should we call an ambulance?” Well, I found an interesting article on one of the sites about the signs of traumatic brain injuries and first aid for a child.
Often in a situation where a child falls from a bed or changing table, the mother does not know what to do. Should I run to the doctor, call an ambulance, or help the child myself? It all depends on the severity of the injury, but the most important thing is to calm down and think soberly.
A child fell out of bed and hit his head: possible injuries
When small children fall, hitting their head is inevitable. What matters is not exactly where he hit when he fell (forehead or back of the head), but the severity of the brain damage.
A child’s body differs in many ways from an adult’s; the bones of the skull are not completely fused until they are one year old (they are easily displaced), and the brain tissue is fragile and immature. All of these factors predispose to more severe brain damage.
All traumatic brain injuries are divided into:
- open (damaged bones and soft tissues)
-closed (when the integrity of the skull bones and soft tissues is not compromised)
Closed brain injuries are divided into:
-brain concussion
- brain contusion
-compression of the brain
With a concussion, there are no changes in the structure of the brain matter, with a bruise, foci of destruction of the brain matter appear, and compression appears against the background of the bruise due to rupture of blood vessels or fragments of the skull.
If a child falls and hits his head (the back of the head or forehead), there may be a soft tissue bruise - the mildest injury when the brain does not suffer in any way. Then a lump or abrasion occurs at the site of the impact.
Symptoms indicating a brain injury
A concussion is manifested by a short-term loss of consciousness. In children under one year old, this can be difficult to notice. This condition can be assumed if some time has passed from the moment of the fall to the appearance of crying (1-3 minutes). The child may vomit. Up to 3 months, vomiting may occur repeatedly. There may be pale skin, sweating, as well as drowsiness and refusal to eat. Children under one year old do not sleep well the first night after injury.
With a brain injury, the loss of consciousness may be longer (more than an hour), and signs of respiratory and cardiac dysfunction may appear.
If a child falls out of bed and falls such that a skull fracture occurs, his condition may be serious. There may be leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (a light liquid) or blood from the nose or ear. Bruises appear around the eyes (a symptom of glasses). However, symptoms may appear several hours after the injury.
How to assess the severity of an injury if a child falls and hits his head?
If a child falls from a bed (sofa, changing table or other surface), it is necessary to closely monitor his condition. In the case when everything ends with 10-15 minutes of crying, and the child’s condition has not changed, you don’t need to see a doctor.
If the mother has any doubts that the injury is not dangerous, it is better to call a doctor, since it is more reliable to make sure of the child’s health than to treat serious consequences later.
Children under 1.5 years old can have neurosonography. This procedure is painless, inexpensive and performed using an ultrasound machine. It is used to determine increased intracranial pressure and the presence of life-threatening hemorrhages. At a later age, such a study will not be possible if a large fontanel is overgrown.
A child fell out of bed - first aid
If a lump appears at the site of the impact, you can apply ice in a napkin or something cold. Magnesia has a resolving effect; lotions with this solution should be done 2 times a day.
If there is bleeding, a cloth in the form of a tampon is applied to the wound. If the bleeding does not stop for more than 15 minutes, you must call an ambulance.
If a child falls and hits his forehead or the back of his head, he should not sleep for an hour (this applies to children over one year old), because by the adequacy of his answers and reactions to your questions, you can understand whether the brain has been damaged. You can (and should) wake up and check your coordination at night.
The child must be monitored very closely and cared for for 7 days if the doctor has allowed him to stay at home. The child needs peace and lack of visual stress (this is especially true for children over 1.5-2 years old).
Should I call an ambulance if my child falls and hits his head?
In case of loss of consciousness and severe bleeding from the wound, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. Before her arrival, it is better to lay the baby on his side, especially if there is vomiting (in this position he will not choke).
If a child falls from a great height on his head or back, the spine may be damaged. Then the baby’s position should be changed very carefully to avoid spinal cord injury.
An ambulance should be called if any of the alarming symptoms appear:
-deterioration in health
- the child “falls asleep on the go”, experiences dizziness (this applies to older children)
- spasms or twitching of body muscles
- wide pupils do not narrow in bright light or pupils of different sizes
-severe pallor
-blood in urine, stool or vomit
-paresis or paralysis of muscles
For severe brain injuries, appropriate treatment is prescribed only after a thorough examination of the child.
Prevention of head injuries in children due to falls
The situation when a child falls from a bed or changing table occurs most often with children under one year old. Therefore, there is no need to leave the baby alone, especially if he has already learned to roll over. It is better to leave the child on the floor (not naked, of course).
A changing table is a very dangerous thing, as it has a small area. Therefore, the presence of adults alone is not enough; you need to hold the child with your hand. It is better to swaddle your baby on a bed or sofa.
You can lay down something soft or put pillows on the floor, in case the child does fall out of bed.
Children also “love” to fall out of strollers. Therefore, it is better to purchase lower models and strollers with high sides, and do not neglect to fasten the child.
When a child begins to walk, falls occur frequently. This may be due to slippery floors (parquet). Your child can wear socks with rubberized inserts (they will prevent slipping). Rugs and rugs should not “ride” on the floor; they can also cause a fall.
I would also like to note the psychological side of the issue. There is no need to always be afraid that the child will fall and hit his head - after all, exactly what a person is very afraid of happens. In addition, you can pass this fear on to the child himself.
