Concussions-What You Need to Know

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a bump or a blow to the head.  Symptoms of a concussion can include pain, nausea, loss of consciousness, vomiting, light sensitivity or dizziness. 

Spring sports are in full swing.  Be prepared for what to do if you are concerned your child might have a concussion.

When to Seek Care?

Anytime you as a parent are concerned, you should seek care from a provider.  Things such as vomiting, loss of consciousness or excessive sleepiness are reasons to seek emergent care care immediately.  Sometimes it is harder to know if your smaller child has lost consciousness.  If your child cries immediately after the fall/hit, you can rest assured they did not lose consciousness.  If you are concerned about your child's irritability, our team is available for appointments.

What Can I Do For My Child?

If your child has been seen by a provider and cleared to be at home, the best thing for your child is to have brain rest.  Resting, dimming the lights and having low stimuli activity is key.  Only use Tylenol for the first 48 hours after a head injury.  DO NOT USE MOTRIN/NSAIDS as they can increase the risk of bleeding.  Your child should avoid looking at screens such as televisions, phones or iPads as that can make symptoms worse.

When to Return To Activities

Each child is different and will need to be evaluated to determine if they are ready to return to full activity/sports.  Give us a call and we can evaluate your child.  Any time after an injury to the head, children should rest and take it easy for a few days.  Once your child feels up to activities have them start slowly.  If they begin to experience symptoms again that means more rest is needed. 

Reminder!

What would happen if your child returns to sports with a concussion?  Something called Second Impact Syndrome can cause permanent damage to the brain if it is hit again while still injured.  This is why it is very important to be honest about the symptoms your child may be experiencing and allow rest when advised. 

If you are concerned that your child might have a concussion, the providers at Saving Grace are here to answer all of your questions.  If you are in the OKC or Tulsa Metro areas, we are also able to evaluate your child with an in-home visit.  Give us a call or schedule a virtual or in-home visit. We are here to help!