Brain Injuries.

What can happen when the brain is injured?
If there is a severe blow to the head the brain bounces against the inside of the skull.

• Confusion
• Slow to answer questions
• Unequal sized pupils
• Stumbling, inability to walk straight
• Abnormal breathing
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Seizures
• Obvious serious head wound
• Disturbance of vision
• An infant won't stop crying
• Vomits
• Difficult to awaken
• Feeling anxious or irritable
  
  
  Call 911 immediately if any of these symptoms are present after a head injury. Do not move the child unless he is in danger. Wait for trained medical help.

Fainting.

 

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode is usually brief lasting less than a couple of minutes and you recover from it quickly and completely.  

The medical name for fainting is syncope. 

If it is a first a child has fainted it should be treated as a medical emergency in case there is an underlying medical condition.

Possible causes:  

• Low blood sugar
• Standing in one place for too long
• Seizures
• Sudden drop in blood pressure due to dehydration or bleeding
• Standing up very suddenly from a lying position

Fainting can also be related to:

• Emotional distress
• Fear
• Severe pain

• Have the child lie down or sit down
• Loosen belts, collars and restrictive clothing
• Check for breathing
• Have him place his head between his knees if sitting
• Advise him to get up slowly after the event
• If there is bleeding from an injury control the bleeding
• Call 911 if he doesn't regain consciousness within one minute 
• Start CPR if there is no breathing or signs of life and continue until trained medical help arrives or until the child regains consciousness