Head injury
Learning objectives
- Learn how to recognise when someone has a head injury
- Learn the key action to help when someone has a head injury
- Practise applying the key action to a known situation in a role play
- Share something creative to inform others how they can help someone who has a head injury
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Guidance regarding giving first aid in the current coronavirus situation can be found in our News section. Please always consider your own personal safety first when delivering first aid.
Nick and Simon are playing badminton, when Simon falls and hits his head on a bench. Simon needs help and Nick knows just what to do.
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Simon and I often play badminton together – it’s a tough workout and a good laugh. We were practising for a doubles match when Simon dived to save a shot.
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He fell badly – hitting his head on the gym bench on the way down. It looked like a nasty fall so I went over straight away to check if he was okay.
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Simon said his head hurt and he could feel a bump coming up. It must have been painful to hit his head like that. He hadn’t cut himself though and he didn’t seem to be hurt anywhere else.
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I wrapped the ice pack in my spare t-shirt and told him to carefully hold it against the bump on his head.
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I phoned his sister Lucy to see if she could come and pick him up. As we waited for her to arrive I kept talking to Simon.
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I wanted to reassure him and make sure he wasn’t confused or starting to feel sick or dizzy. I knew those were signs that his head injury might be more serious.
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When Lucy arrived I told her what had happened. I also let her know what the signs of a more serious head injury were so that she could keep an eye on Simon at home.
nextWhy is it important to apply something cold to a head injury?
If someone has a serious head injury, what are some of the signs they might they show?
Take action: If someone has a head injury, apply something cold to the injury.
Start OverWhat to do if someone has a head injury
Step 1.
They may have banged their head. Their head might hurt, they might have a headache and a lump may appear on it.
Step 2.
Ask the person to rest and apply something cold to the injury (e.g. frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel).
Step 3.
If they become sleepy, vomit or seem confused, call 999.
Can you help someone who has a head injury?
Learn
These activities help young people learn what to do when someone has a head injury.
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Head injury – learn activity
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Head injury – learner skill guide
Practise
These activities help young people practise how to help someone who has a head injury.
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First aid skill - practise activity ideas
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Head injury - practise role play
Share and remember
These activities are to help young people remember the key actions and share their knowledge with others.
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Secondary guidance and support
This section includes curriculum links, a teacher and educator guide and everything you need to get started.
