Top 10 Coronavirus Tips for Head Injury Emergencies
From skull fractures to concussions and epidural hematomas, among others as discussed in detail over at frontlineer.com, trauma to the head can lead to some very serious head and brain injuries. With many people at home, particularly children, due to the social- distancing and lockdowns brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, accidents leading to these traumatic brain injuries are likely to occur. This is why this article should be a great resource as it will look to highlight the top 10 coronavirus tips for head injury emergencies.
Know the signs that indicate you should call 911
It is important that you know the signs of a serious head injury, one that requires emergency attention, and this is the first tip. As per discussions on the same over at frontlineer.com, some of the symptoms that indicate a serious head injury include severe head or facial bleeding, severe headache, unequal pupil size, seizures, slurred speech, loss of consciousness even if it is just momentary among others. In addition to this, children who have suffered a serious head injury are likely to also experience persistent crying, a bulge on the soft spot on the front of their head and so forth. All these symptoms require that you call 911 as soon as possible.
Call for an ambulance rather than going to the ER on your own
It is important that you call 911 for an ambulance to come and have you taken to an ER, which is our next tip. This is doubly important as it will not only help keep you safe, since it is not advisable for you to drive after having suffered a serious head injury, it will also ensure that you don’t interact with anyone who has the coronavirus on your way to the hospital or in the hospital itself.
The ER and hospital are safe
As revealed in discussions on the same over at frontlineer.com, most people are afraid of going to the ER or the hospital for fear of being exposed to the coronavirus. However, an important tip is to note that ERs and hospitals have measures in place to ensure that patients and protected and are safe from the exposure to COVID-19. This means that you shouldn’t put off going to the ER to have your head injury attended to due to the fear of being exposed to the virus; you will be safe.
Reveal to the dispatcher if you think or know you have coronavirus
If you think or you know you have coronavirus, another important tip is to ensure you let the dispatcher know when you call 911 after having suffered a head injury emergency. As covered over at frontlineer.com, not everyone who has the virus is admitted in hospital, as there are those self-isolating at home due to the fact that their symptoms are that serious. If you suffer a serious head injury and are one of those, then make sure the dispatcher knows so that the emergency and medical personnel can be made aware to enable them to protect themselves from exposure.
Reactions can be delayed
As per the subject matter experts over at frontlineer.com, just because one isn’t showing serious symptoms immediately after the trauma to the head doesn’t mean that they are out of the woods and are in the clear. An important tip is to stay vigilant for about 48 hours or so, and call 911 as soon as you notice any signs of a traumatic brain injury.
Have someone check in on you for the next couple of days
On a related note, another tip that the gurus over at frontlineer.com have for us as far as head injuries go in the current coronavirus crisis is concerned is making sure one is not alone for the at least 2 days after having suffered a head injury emergency. If you have been discharged from the ER, you should have someone come stay with you for about 48 hours to keep an eye on you. Make sure they are sure they don’t have the coronavirus, and social distance even as you share the house to be safe. This way, they can keep an eye on you and call 911 if they notice any serious signs.
Telemedicine
If you are not sure if you require immediate medical attention after having suffered a head injury, just call your doctor, as per discussions on the same over at frontlineer.com, many doctors are offering telemedicine services to keep their patients protected in the current coronavirus crisis. This service will enable your doctor to evaluate your symptoms virtually and advice you accordingly, ensuring that you receive the medical attention you require while still social-distancing and keeping safe from the coronavirus.
Be vey careful when handling someone who has suffered a head injury
Another important tip for dealing with head injury emergencies is being extremely cautious when dealing some one who has suffered such an injury. This, as per the subject matter experts over at frontlineer.com, is because, head injuries could also lead to one suffering damage to the spine since the head is likely to recoil from the blow leading to the injury. Moving the injured person may therefore only serve to exacerbate such injuries. You should therefore call 911 and avoid moving them unnecessarily.
Watch out for bleeding
If one is experiencing severe bleeding after having suffered a serious head injury, you should also try to stem the flow of the blood as you wait for the ambulance and emergency services to arrive. As per discussions on the same over at frontlineer.com, you should take a piece of clean cloth and use it to apply pressure on the site of the bleeding so as to ensure that they don’t lose too much blood which can be life-threatening.
Protective gear
The last tip is going to touch on how you can avoid head injury emergencies in your household, even as you social-distance during the current coronavirus pandemic. The most reliable way is to ensure that your children wear helmets whenever they are participating in any wheeled-sports activities such as skateboarding, cycling among others. Also make sure the helmet is replaced after a crash as it will be compromised and as such won’t be able to provide adequate protection.
If you are looking for more information or advice on how to deal with this or any other medical emergency during the current coronavirus crisis, then the gurus over at frontlineer.com have you covered.
