Head Injuries
When a student has a head injury, we are always concerned about possible complications. Head injuries can be serious and need careful consideration. You should notify any caregivers and your child’s coach if the student participates in any sports. Concussion symptoms may not appear for a few hours or up to as much as a few weeks. Please mark this occurrence on your calendar.
Here are some guidelines that need to be followed after a head injury. Further medical attention should be sought for the following symptoms:
- Severe headache, continuing or worsening headache, headache that lasts over an hour, headache that is severe enough to interfere with activity or normal sleep
- Unusual irritability, excessive drowsiness or other definite change in behavior; you may allow your child to sleep after the injury, but wake every 2 hours to see if child can be aroused
- Unable to tell his/her/their name, where he/she/they is/are, and/or what the situation is.
- Slurred speech
- Changes in ability to see or hear such as he/she/they complains of seeing double or eyes do not appear to be moving well together
- The pupils should be the same size and should get smaller if light is shined into the eyes; the sizes of the pupils are not important as long as the pupils are equal size and get smaller when light is shined into the eye
- Vomiting occurs
- Unusual feelings such as numbness, tingling, and weakness are noted in the arms
- Dizziness and/or loss of balance
- Drainage (clear or bloody) from nose or ears
- Pale color that does not return to normal within a few minutes
- Convulsions/seizures
- Loss of consciousness