Head Injury — Reference Guide

Head Injuries

Head injuries can be serious — even if the casualty appears well. Always follow these steps and seek medical advice when in doubt.

Step 1: Assess the Situation

Check for danger to yourself before approaching.
Check if the person is responsive and breathing normally (DRABC).
If unresponsive or not breathing, call 999 and begin CPR.

Step 2: Look for Signs of Head Injury

? Concussion (Mild Head Injury)

A temporary disturbance in brain function caused by a blow or jolt to the head.

Signs & Symptoms:

? Headache
? Dizziness or “seeing stars”
? Confusion or disorientation
? Nausea/vomiting
? Memory problems or brief loss of consciousness

Treatment:

Keep the person still and calm.
Monitor for changes in consciousness.
Don’t leave them alone.
Seek medical advice — even if symptoms seem mild.

? Skull Fracture (Severe Head Injury)

A break in one or more of the bones in the skull, often from a strong blow.

Signs & Symptoms:

? Bleeding from the nose, ears, or wound
? Clear fluid from nose/ears (may be cerebrospinal fluid)
?️ Visible depression or deformity in skull
? Seizures or unconsciousness

Treatment:

DO NOT apply direct pressure if there’s a suspected skull fracture.
Keep head and neck still.
Call 999 or 112 immediately.
Cover wound lightly with a clean dressing if bleeding.

? Compression (Serious Head Injury)

Bleeding inside the skull — such as subdural, epidural, or intracerebral haemorrhage.

Signs & Symptoms (can appear minutes or hours later):

? Severe or worsening headache
? Unequal pupils or visual changes
? Slurred speech, confusion, or drowsiness
? Vomiting
? Seizures or unconsciousness

Treatment:

Treat as a medical emergency — call 999/112.
Support airway, breathing, and circulation (DRABC).
Monitor response level (AVPU).
Be prepared to begin CPR if needed.

? Step 3: Record and Monitor

Keep notes of any symptoms and the timeline of changes.
Monitor their breathing and responsiveness until help arrives.
Ensure an accident report is completed if the injury occurred in a workplace or public setting.

Google Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

5 (406 reviews)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Chris was such a great trainer for our one-day course. Informative, attentive and friendly! Learned so much and helped i…”

Adam Dixon

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I highly recommend this course! The training was clear, engaging, and very well structured. The instructor was professio…”

Ewelina

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I highly recommend the one-day First Aid at Work course that I attended at Caroline House, as part of a group from our s…”

Krysia Grzywinska

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“It was a wonderful course for learning first aid knowledge. The teacher's lively and engaging lessons made us learn in a…”

Sofia Lu

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I attended the three‑day First Aid at Work course with Sarah and had a brilliant experience. Sarah was friendly and appr…”

Gwendolen D’Adamo

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Absolutely fantastic 3 days with Sarah! From coming in the first day was made to feel welcome!! Nothing was to small or …”

Natalie Costello

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“The course was held at my workplace on a Saturday, it was interesting,informative and very educational - I now feel conf…”

dee godleman

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Highly recommended First Aid at Work Course. Well structured, informative and provides a good skill set to not only use…”

Connor Tickle

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I had a great experience with the first aid training. Sarah was incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the course.…”

M Hassan

See all reviews »