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Head Injuries And Help 

 Now, most people realize that the brain is an incredible organ, and that it is very delicate, and although it has the protection of the bony skull, this does not give the head adequate protection form many of today's accidents, especially motor vehicle accidents. A sudden blow to the head can cause an incredible number of health problems, as the brain is responsible for so many different things that go on in the body. Even when there are no visible signs of injury to the head or face, brain damage can still have occurred.

There are two kinds of head injuries, namely closed head injuries, and open head injuries. Open head injuries are the more obvious of the two, since there is obvious bleeding and a piercing of the skull by some object (maybe a rock or a stick, or these days possibly even a bullet), thus damaging the brain tissue inside the skull. A closed head injury occurs when there is damage to the brain, but there is no penetration of the skull, so no signs of external injury. These kinds of injuries are often more serious, since the amount of damage cannot be evaluated right at the start.

When the head is knocked or bumped, it causes the brain to crush against the sides of the skull, causing bruising, which in turn may lead to significant swelling of the brain. This in turn causes pressure in the brain which causes headaches of different intensities. In some cases it is necessary to operate to lessen the pressure in the skull, thus removing some of the pain.

So, if a head injury occurs, what do you do? First of all, professional medical help is always advised for head injuries, since the amount of damage may not be known for some time, so try to get emergency personnel to the injury site as soon as possible. Be aware that the head bleeds easily, and the amount of blood does not indicate the severity of the injury. Check whether the person is conscious, or confused. Make sure the patient is breathing. If possible, it is advisable not to move the patient, especially if there is likely neck damage, as moving could make the patient worse.

However, if the person is not breathing, check for a pulse, at the wrist, or carefully at the neck. If there is a pulse, then you can start mouth to mouth resuscitation to restart their breathing. If there is no pulse, then cardiac compression is needed to be alternated with mouth to mouth.

It is worth noting that first aid training is still changing, and a recent report suggested that doing both mouth to mouth and cardiac compression was not the way to go, so if at all possible, take a first aid course so that you are taught the correct information. They are not very expensive, and just might save someone's life.

If the skull is deformed by the accident, either compressed or swollen, then this is a sign that the skull is fractured. Similarly if there is clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose, then the skull has been fractured. In this case, the ear should be gently covered and the person turned to that side. This should stop any dirt getting into the skull. Should there be bleeding, then pressure should be applied to the wound to slow and stop the bleeding.

One of the most common symptom of a head injury is nausea, so it is important to make sure the patient has a clear airway, is in fact breathing, and that if at all possible they are on their side to reduce the chance of choking.