How to Observe an Individual After a Concussion

It is very important to observe an individual after they suffer a concussion to see if any lasting symptoms develop. Since many of the more serious effects of a concussion do not become apparent for several days following the injury, it is necessary to remain in contact with the individual to ensure medical attention is sought, if needed.

Things You'll Need

• Physician

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Instructions

• 1

  Make sure the patient remains still immediately after the injury until help arrives. It is crucially important to stabilize a concussion victim's spinal column after the initial impact. Do not allow the patient to get up or move unnecessarily.

• 2

  Ask the victim questions, if they're conscious, that test their memory of what happened. Because different types of memory loss accompany concussions of varying severity, it is important to ask a patient both about events that happened before the injury, as well as events that took place afterwards. Usually, a concussion victim will have no memory of the actual impact that caused the injury.

• 3

  Inform the paramedic if the individual who suffered the concussion appears confused, doesn't know where he is or asks the same questions over and over. This is a telltale sign of a potentially serious concussion.

• 4

  Observe the patient in the days following the head injury to see if they develop any symptoms that might lead to post-concussion syndrome (PCS). These include: sustained dizziness, vomiting or nausea, extreme sensitivity to light and/or noise, balance problems or difficult walking, insomnia, memory loss, headaches and sensory anomalies such as loss of taste or smell.

• 5

  Keep an eye open to see if the victim develops any bruising around the site of the impact. If you observe any swelling or bruising, bring the victim to a doctor immediately. There's an old adage that bruises to the forehead aren't as serious as bruises to the temples, sides or back of the head--don't believe them. All head bruising should be considered serious.

• 6

  Help the victim seek medical attention within 72 hours if any symptoms linger or persist. A concussion that genuinely isn't serious will not produce any symptoms that last longer than a few moments after the incident that caused the injury.