It’s not just a bump on the head: concussion can kill you

Concussion may be a common occurrence, but it can lead to a coma and even death if left untreated.

ER24’s Athish Mohun, a paramedic, said he and his team respond to reports of concussions almost daily. This type of injury is most prevalent in contact sports like rugby and soccer in South Africa but any injury to the head can cause a concussion – or a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), as it’s also known.

Here are the steps you should take to prevent damage to the brain:

What is a concussion?

A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by an impact to the head or violent shaking of the head or upper torso. The impact causes your brain to shift suddenly inside the skull, and it is this chaotic motion that stretches, tears and damages brain cells.

Most people recover well from symptoms experienced at the time of injury, but for some people it could take longer, especially if a second concussion occurs. In some cases, concussion could be a warning sign of a more serious brain injury.

Concussion symptoms

If the patient is still conscious, it may be more difficult to diagnose a concussion, but look out for some of these symptoms:

Physical:

• Headache

• Difficulty thinking clearly

• Irritability

• Blurred/ double vision

• Difficulty remembering new information

• Sadness

• Nausea/ vomiting

• Difficulty concentrating

• More emotional than usual

• Balance problems

• In children, persistent uncontrollable crying

• Change in sleep patterns: sleep more/ less

• Lethargy

• Slurred speech

More serious warning signs:

• Pupils change size (one pupil bigger than the other)

• Confusion and disorientation

• Convulsions/ seizures

• Drowsiness/ difficulty waking patient up

• Loss of consciousness

Two common mistakes made by onlookers:

Mohun said that bystanders who try to help a concussed person can often, unknowingly, do more harm than good. Here are the two most common mistakes paramedics see:

• Moving the patient around

• Carrying the patient away from where the injury occurred

“It’s human nature to try and help but carrying the patient can actually make things worse – especially if the patient has any related spine or neck injuries,” warned Mohun.

Get help quickly

“Getting checked out early is vital,” said Mohun – people tend to ignore the symptoms of a concussion, sometimes for weeks – only to get to an emergency department and discover bleeding or swelling in the brain.

What can bystanders do while they wait?

• Keep the patient where they are

• Keep the patient as still as possible (whether conscious or unconscious)

• Try not to move the head and neck

• Calm the patient down (if confused)

• Stay with the patient until help arrives to prevent a second injury

• Keep the patient away from any hazards

• Wait for medical help to get there

• If the patient vomits, turn him/ her on his/ her side

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at  krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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