Skip to content

Head injuries

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

Most bumps to the head are minor, but some cause bleeding or swelling around the brain. This page helps you recognize the warning signs and decide when to call for help.

Do this now

  1. Keep the person still. If they fell hard, were in a crash, or have neck or back pain, do not move them.
  2. Call your local emergency number if any warning sign below applies (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom).
  3. Press a clean cloth on any bleeding. Do not press on a dent in the skull or on an object stuck in the wound.
  4. Hold a cold pack wrapped in cloth on the bump.
  5. Stay with the person and keep checking that they are awake, alert, and breathing normally.

Warning signs: call right away

Call your emergency number if the person has hit their head and shows any of these.

  • Was knocked out, even briefly, or cannot stay awake
  • Has a seizure
  • Keeps vomiting
  • Has a headache that gets worse, or a very bad one
  • Has vision or hearing problems, or one pupil larger than the other
  • Has clear fluid or blood coming from the nose or ears
  • Has bruising behind the ears or around the eyes with no direct blow to them
  • Has new weakness, numbness, trouble walking, or loss of balance
  • Has slurred speech, confusion, or strange behavior
  • Fell from a height, hit their head at speed, or was in a road crash
  • Has a deep wound, a dent in the skull, or something stuck in the head
  • Is a baby with a bump, swelling, or large cut on the head

Warning signs can appear hours or even days later, so keep watching after a blow.

... danger "Spine caution" A hard blow to the head can also injure the neck. If you suspect a spinal injury, do not move the person unless they are in immediate danger, such as from fire. Ask them to stay still, hold their head steady in the position you found it, and wait for responders. If they are not breathing, you must open the airway and start CPR, even if it means moving them.

If the person is unconscious

If the person is not responding but is breathing normally, and you do not suspect a spinal injury, place them in the recovery position. If you must keep the spine straight, support the head and neck and roll the person as one unit with help, only if the airway is at risk.

If they are not breathing normally, call your emergency number and start CPR at once.

Bleeding

Scalp wounds bleed a lot, even when they are small. Press a clean cloth on the wound firmly. If blood soaks through, add another cloth on top and keep pressing. See bleeding for more.

Concussion basics

A concussion is a mild brain injury caused by a blow, a jolt, or a fall. A person does not need to be knocked out to have one.

Common signs include:

  • Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
  • Dizziness, balance problems, or nausea
  • Confusion, or trouble remembering what happened
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Feeling slow, foggy, or just not right
  • Being more tired, irritable, or emotional than usual

Anyone with a suspected concussion should be checked by a health professional. Rest, avoid screens and stress if they make symptoms worse, and take extra care until fully recovered. Sleep is fine if the person is tired, after the warning signs above have been ruled out.

Care at home after a minor injury

If the person is well and has no warning signs, a responsible adult should stay with them for at least the first 24 hours.

  • Hold a cold pack wrapped in cloth on the bump for short periods
  • Rest and avoid hard activity
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs until fully recovered
  • Do not drive or play contact sports until a health professional says it is safe
  • Call a doctor if symptoms get worse or last longer than about two weeks

Children and teens need extra care. Keep them out of play and sport until a doctor says they can return, and tell their school or coach.

Children and babies

Young children cannot tell you how they feel. Watch for crying that will not settle, unusual sleepiness, vomiting, or a soft spot on the head that bulges. Take any head injury in a baby seriously, and call your emergency number for any bump, swelling, or large cut on a baby's head.

... note "Take a course" A Red Cross or similar first aid course teaches you how to assess a head injury and protect the spine with hands on practice.