As all parents know, when your child falls and hits his or her head, it can be a scary experience. Parents naturally want to keep their children safe, but accidents happen all the time. Thankfully, a lot of times, bumps on the head aren’t too serious and can be easily treated. But what do you do if you think your child has a bad head injury? Here are a few things you should know as a parent about head injuries and how to deal with them.
A Lot of the Time You Can Treat Them at Home
According to Medical News Today, most falls and injuries to the head involve only the scalp and are external injuries. These injuries can cause swelling or a “goose egg” to appear on the head and can be treated with general first aid at home. Treatment may include an ice pack to reduce swelling, Tylenol for pain, and close monitoring of your child for 24 hours following the injury. If there is further concern, take your child to a doctor for diagnosis and further treatment.
Bad Injuries Can Have a Lasting Impact
High-impact sports like football, soccer, lacrosse, and hockey put children and youth athletes at a higher risk for concussion. When a youth athlete experiences a hard blow or hits the ground, his or her brain experiences blunt trauma that temporarily interferes with its functioning. If you suspect your child or youth athlete has suffered a head injury, you should go to a doctor for diagnosis and a treatment plan. To allow for a full and complete recovery, rest, avoidance of physical activities, and limited use of electronics, TV, and video games is recommended. According to Darras Law, athletes who have suffered from concussions or other severe brain injuries have reported lasting negative effects such as severe mood swings, inability to concentrate, migraines, and memory loss.
Reducing the Risk of Sports-Related Brain Injuries
As youth athletes continue to play sports, the importance of reducing the risk of a brain injury has taken center stage. Programs and schools should purchase headgear and helmets that are the right size and that are worn properly, as Shepherd Center suggests. Always talk with athletes about the importance of reporting a head injury because athletes are more likely to play with a concussion during a big game in fear of being pulled out. The coach and coaching staff set the tone for safety at every game. Lastly, put a head injury plan in place that teaches athletes ways to lower their chances of getting a head injury.
A head injury can be a very serious thing, so it’s good to know how to treat them and how to prevent them. Unfortunately, they can occur often when your child is playing sports. With proper safety measures in place and with the knowledge of what to look for when a head injury occurs, you can be ready to know what to do to prevent and treat head injuries for your child.
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