Head and Facial Injuries

All injuries and blows to the head should be treated seriously. There may be no outward sign of injury or brain damage. but complications can develop. BLEEDING from injured blood vessels with in the skull may not produce symptoms or signs until hours or days after the injury. Any casualty who has been even briefly unconscious must receive medical attention.

Symptoms and signs

Note that some of the following may not appear immediately and may be delayed for up to 7 days:

• wounds, bruising, swelling of the head or face
• bleeding or clear fluid discharge from the ears or nose
• headache and blurred vision
• nausea and vomiting
• loss of short-term memory (especially of events leading up to the accident)
• confusion and abnormal responses to touch and commands
• weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech
• uneven pupil size
• twitching of the limbs, CONULSIONS
• noisy or difficult breathing
• unconsciousness or altered consciousness

First aid treatment

1. Do not move the casualty unless this is essential for safety, because there may also be spinal injury. If the casualty must be moved to safety, support the head and neck and move carefully.
2. Place the casualty in the lateral position if it is safe to do so; if the casualty is unconscious, check the airway, breathing and pulse and begin expired air resuscitation (EAR) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary.
3. Control external bleeding. If blood or fluid is draining from the ear, position the person as directed in EAR INJURIES. Cover wounds or injured eyes with a clean dressing.
4. Seek medical aid urgently.

Fractured or dislocated jaw

Symptoms and signs

• swelling, pain and tenderness around jaw
• misalignment of the jaw and teeth
• difficulty and worse pain on attempting to open or close the jaw

First aid treatment

1. If the person is unconscious, place in the lateral position, check the airway, breathing and pulse and begin EAR or CPR if necessary.
2. An injured person who is conscious and able to help may be salt in a comfortable position and asked to support the jaw with a hand.
3. Seek medical aid immediately.