How to Evaluate for Head Injuries During First Aid
Things You'll Need
- Rubber Or Latex Gloves
- Surgical Masks
- Powerful Flashlight
- Pens
- White Paper
- White paper
Instructions
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Setup
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1
Put on rubber gloves and a surgical mask before touching the injured person.
The Exam
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2
Ask the injured person if he or she has a headache, is experiencing difficulties with vision, is feeling a lack of balance or is nauseated. If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," suspect a head injury.
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3
Feel the injured person's skull and face, and note bruising, lacerations, bleeding, blood or fluids in the nose or ears, depressions of the skull, or damage to the eyes. If any of these are found, suspect a head injury. See "How to Conduct a Secondary Survey of the Head."
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4
Look at the injured person's skull and face for any bruising or discoloration, especially behind the ears or around the eyes. If any bruising is seen, suspect a head injury.
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5
Take the injured person's pulse and respiratory rate. (See "How to Take a Pulse" and "How to Take a Respiratory Rate.") If the pulse is slow or bounding, or if the respiratory rate is irregular, suspect a head injury.
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6
Shine a flashlight or headlamp into the injured person's eyes and observe how the pupils respond to the light. If the pupils are unequal in size or react slowly to the light by barely contracting, suspect a head injury.
Record Results
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7
Write down your observations, and hand these over when care is transferred to a medical professional.
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1
First Aid - Related Articles
- First Aid for Head Injuries
- How to Give First Aid for Joint Dislocation
- How to Assess Level of Consciousness During First Aid
- How to Conduct a Secondary Survey of the Head During First Aid
- How to Carry an Injured Person on a Litter During First Aid
- How to Treat for Shock During First Aid
- How to Evaluate for Shock During First Aid