What is a concussion?

Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury. It’s caused by being struck in the head or by hard fast movement of the head that shakes the brain so much that it slams into the side of the skull. Currently, research is being done to find an efficient way to avoid getting a concussion. Helmets are the most common items that are used to protect from concussions, but it is not the most efficient way to avoid a concussion.

If you do get a concussion, it is important not to stimulate your brain too much. The brain is stimulated mainly by light, sound, reading and thinking. Recovering from a concussion can be a painful process, so it’s best to relax until you better.

How to determine if you have a concussion and how to survive a concussion if you have one

1. Stop: The individual must immediately stop the activity that lead to the impact to their head.
2. Get away: Remove the patient from the environment and assess the situation.
3. Watch: After someone has an impact to the head, and it seems that the person may have a concussion, you should keep a careful eye on them, especially if it’s a child, for at least 24 hours.
4. Verify: Confirm if the signs and symptoms of a concussion are present. Consult the list below.

• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Ringing in ears
• Concentration difficulties
• Memory loss

1. Alert: Call 911 or bring the person to the hospital if the victim...

-is getting sick more than once

-is repeating the same thing over and over again

-has slurred speech

-has a constant severe headache

-has lost consciousness for more than 2 minutes

-is facing repetitive confusion that doesn’t go away  

Get the person to the hospital as soon as possible (you may call an ambulance) or, in a less severe case, it is fine to let the person rest in a dark room without any mind stimulations.

1. Rest: Currently physicians say it is okay to let a concussion victim sleep because it will help in their recovery. Some individuals believe that it’s not good to let the patient sleep however, sometimes it’s the proper thing to do. Many people only want to sleep it off after having a concussion. It is very important to not stimulate the patient’s brain. This means that no one may have a long conversation with the patient, no loud noises around (ex: music), no lights of any kind (this includes: TVs, computers, phones and electric alarm clocks), no books, no games and avoid moving too much.
2. Be_prepared: It is common that the patient gets sick after a concussion, this is why it’s a good idea to be prepared for anything that may happen.

Facts

• The Colorado Medical Society and Academy of Neurology created a scale to determine the severity of a concussion
• Once you have a concussion, the damage will remain
• If you get a second concussion before you recover from the first one, there are chances the concussion may be deadly