The previous post on this blog discussed some of the major symptoms that a person develops after suffering a concussion. Sadly, many of those symptoms cannot be identified easily or quickly, either by the person who has suffered the concussion or a family member or friend. However, with adequate knowledge of concussions, it may be possible to act before the brain injury does a lot of damage.

Among adults who have sustained a concussion, it is common for blood to clot around the brain and crowd the brain against the skull, which can have serious consequences. Therefore, if any adult feels a headache that worsens day by day or feels weakness, numbness or decreased coordination among the various parts of the body, that person must immediately consult a doctor. Other symptoms may include vomiting repeatedly, nausea and slurred speech.

If, for some reason, a victim is not able to identify the symptoms and take the necessary action, family members, friends or caregivers must take the person to the emergency room immediately. Some of the symptoms that people should look for include continuing drowsiness, an unnaturally dilated pupil in one eye, seizures and convulsions, inability to recognize people or places, confusion or restlessness and a display of unusual behavior or sudden loss of consciousness.

When identifying and dealing with a concussion, observing the symptoms is necessary for adults as well as children. However, additionally, parents, family members and friends of an injured child must also take special care by taking that child to the emergency room as soon as possible. Knowing what to look for can make all of the difference to the outcome of the situation.

Source: CDC.gov, “Concussion,” March 8, 2010