Head injuries
Children also frequently bang their heads and it is difficult to tell whether or not they have done any serious damage. Although, most head injuries are not serious and simply result on a bump or bruise. However, severe or repeated head injuries can cause damage to the brain.
Most blows to the head result in injury to the scalp only and although this is more frightening than life-threatening, it can still be a cause for concern. The head and face are very vascular which means these injuries bleed profusely and can be very scary!
It is very important to look out for anything unusual following a head injury; a severe bang on the head could cause swelling and damage to the brain and it is vitally important that you recognise any early and worrying signs of increased pressure on the brain.
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What to look for
Call 999 or 112 if a child:
- has lost consciousness, even momentarily
- won’t stop crying
- complains of head and neck pain
- isn’t walking normally
What to do
If the child has not lost consciousness and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow:
- Apply a wrapped ice pack or instant cold pack to the injured area for 10 minutes.
- Observe your child carefully for the next 48 hours. If you notice any of the signs of brain injury (see below), phone an ambulance immediately.
- If the incident has occurred close to bedtime or naptime and your child falls asleep soon afterward, check in every few hours to look for twitching limbs or disturbances in colour or breathing. It is okay for your child to go to sleep – there is no need to keep a child awake after a head injury – but you do need to remain vigilant. If you are concerned in any way, wake them up to check on them properly.
- If a child can’t be woken or shows any symptoms of a brain injury (see below) call an ambulance immediately.
Suspected brain injury
The brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, however a severe blow to the head may knock the brain into the side of the skull (see above) or tear blood vessels.
It can be difficult to determine the level of injury, so it’s always wise to discuss a head injury with your doctor. A clear indicator of a serious injury is when a child loses consciousness or has signs of confusion. These symptoms can come on at any time from immediately after the accident to a couple of days later. It is sensible to have your child sleep in the same room as you for a couple of nights following a head injury.
Signs of brain injury
Call an ambulance if a child shows any of these symptoms:
- unconsciousness
- abnormal breathing
- obvious serious wound or suspected skull fracture
- bleeding or clear fluid from the nose, ear or mouth
- disturbance of speech or vision
- pupils of unequal size
- weakness or paralysis
- dizziness
- neck pain or stiffness
- fitting
- vomiting more than two or three times (it is not unusual for children to vomit immediately after an accident as a response to pain, so do not panic if your child is sick just once after a head injury).
If the child is unconscious
- If they are breathing, roll them into the recovery position (on their side so their tongue falls forward in their mouth and any vomit can drain away), trying not to twist their neck or spine. Any head injury could have caused spinal damage.
- If they are not breathing start CPR.
- Call an ambulance.
If the child is conscious but it is a serious injury
- Phone for an ambulance.
- Do your best to keep your child calm and still – try not to let them twist as if they have damaged their spine this could lead to a spinal cord injury.
- If there is any bleeding, grab a clean cloth and apply pressure.
- Do not attempt to clean the wound as it could make things worse.
- Do not apply forceful direct pressure to the wound if you suspect the skull is fractured.
- Never remove any embedded object from a wound.
NICE Guidelines:
The NICE guidelines suggest that if you are concerned about anyone for the following reasons you should ring 999 immediately.
- Unconsciousness or lack of full consciousness (for example, problems keeping eyes open). difficulties with understanding, speaking, reading or writing; decreased sensation; loss of balance; general weakness; visual changes; abnormal reflexes; and problems walking. since the injury. Any suspicion of a skull fracture or penetrating head injury.
- Any seizure
- A high-energy head injury resulting from a forceful injury.
- Get checked out by a health professional for anyone who has experienced any of the following:
- Any loss of consciousness (‘knocked out’) as a result of the injury, from which the person has now recovered.
- Amnesia for events before or after the injury (‘problems with memory’).
- Persistent headache since the injury.
- If there have been any vomiting episodes since the injury.
- If the victim has suffered a previous brain surgery.
- The patient has a history of bleeding or clotting disorders.
- Current drug or alcohol intoxication.
- There are any safeguarding concerns (for example, possible non-accidental injury or a vulnerable person is affected).
- Irritability or altered behaviour (‘easily distracted’, ‘not themselves’, ‘no concentration’, ‘no interest in things around them’), particularly in infants and children aged under 5 years.
Visit Online First Aid to download a free poster of the signs and symptoms of head injuries.
Nose bleeds
Children often have nose bleeds. They can be a result of warm weather or exercise, which dilate the small blood vessels in their nose, or they can be the result of picking or poking their noses, or running into things.
If a child has a nose bleed:
- Sit them down.
- Grab something absorbent to catch the blood.
- Lean them forward, pinching the nose. Leaning the child forward whilst applying pressure to the nose will allow you to see when the bleeding has stopped and will avoid the blood trickling down the back of their throat which could make them sick. You should apply pressure and try to compress the leaking blood vessel against the inside of the nose to stop it bleeding.
- Keep changing your grip until you have got to a point where no blood is coming out.
- Keep applying pressure for at least 10 minutes.
- Release pressure slightly and if it starts to bleed again hold for another 10 minutes.
If it really won’t stop bleeding you will need medical help. Advise them not to pick, poke or blow their nose. If it starts again you will have to apply pressure once more.
Special Situation
If the nose bleed has been caused by trauma, or a punch in the face, controlling the bleeding may be difficult but you need to try as loss of blood is dangerous. You should apply a wrapped ice pack, keep applying pressure and get medical help.
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After a fall and hit the back of my head 13 stables later two days later I still blow blood out of my nose when I blow my nose
Dear Debbie, Please get yourself checked out if you are worried. I would suggest you stop blowing your nose until everything has had time to heal
Please get checked out if you are worried
My daughter banged her head on a quite thick wooden door. Dave wells property doors. I iced it for at least 10 minutes if not more. She has a lump . Couple hours later while eating dinner she got a nose bleed . She has had 2 previous nose bleeds in the night when poorly . Is this nose bleed something to be concerned about ? She is just over 2
Dear Jazmine, the nosebleed itself is not something to worry about. However if she begins to show any signs of a more serious head injury, please get her checked out. Just keep a close eye on her for the next 48 hours. Best wishes Emma
Hi I’m Sydney Smith this my my granddaughter is going to be helping me take care of children’s and need I’m 78 I take care of children my daughter had my granddaughter had a bloody nose so I took care of her and she was a good girl tons of friends and she is a good girl and she takes care of one another and she’s very nice so I take care of all children and I care about them
My 2 year old boy hit His head on a glass table,later at night…I noticed some bleeding on the bedsheet from nose. Should I be worried?
I have a 9 month old baby she banged her head on a swing very hard plastic she got a nose bleed and she was very tired and cried a lot she hit her back of her head and I’m scared now
I don’t think you need to be too worried, but please get them checked out if you see any of the signs in the article.
I crashed on my bike broke my orbital bone and bruised my left temple.This happened 2 days ago.My left nostril is still leaking is this ok or not ..
My kid got a concussion to the back of the head. He is functioning normally in all areas. 3 days after, he is getting small nose bleeds and they have been on and off for 2 days. The Dr isn’t concerned. What should I do?
Hey I need advice so my 7 month old had fall on his face from the bed and fell on his face and his nose started bleeding should I be concerned and he is also act the same I’m also worried because of his age
My daughter banged her head and it was a big lump that came up on her forehead today she was at a birthday party on a bouncing castle and then tonight she had 2 nose bleeds the last one had a big clot at the end she also got an elbow in the face off her brother is this nose bleed from original bang or is it from the elbow she got it has totally stop bleeding after that mucous clot came out. Any advice would be great thanks
Thank you for your message. It sounds like she is fine now. Please keep a close eye on her and if you are worried, contact your GP.
My daughter fractured the back of her skull 3 weeks ago. Today she banged her head quiet hard on the top on a metal bar in the park a couple of hours later she got a nose bleed and has 4 more since is this something I need to get checked out
my daughter also have the same event. She usually have nose bleed but only 2 x a month. Then suddenly she fall on the table last 4 days, back of the head first and very loud. No other danger signs. she only cried out loud and became pale for a while, but after 10min. she danced and play again. But after 2nd day until now node bleeding became more frequent .. almost 2nd day, 3rd day and 4th day she have nose bleeding. But she was still active and no other danger signs. We went to pediatric, yesterday and told that everythings seems fine.Doctor only prescribed her TONIMER a decongestant moisturizer for a week. And if bleeding continous, we will be refered to ENT. Hoping and praying also that my daughter will be fine. Because she was only 1 year old to experience nose bleeding problem. ??
Nosebleeds are quite common in tiny children as they have small blood vessels in their noses that enlarge and can burst. They usually grow out of this. Best wishes Emma
After fall nosebleed and bruises in head one eye got close. Kid sleep from crying. While she’s fall asleep I hotcompress her bruises. No wonds. Next day. Black eyed show.next morning child is active she’s playing eating as it was normal. Only not normal is the black eye that’s starting to get dull looks. Next day her black-eyed is slowly fade away child still active like nothing happends. After almost 3weeks.she got sick cough and runny nose. Is this okey or not?
Hi I am Lily I love all things My favorite color is pink all my good things I love good children I take care of them I’m a little kid too but I know I take care of one another all kids love me all little kids I’ve run Zola and she’s super nice and she takes care of me and I take care of her we’re best friends I take care of everybody I take care kids who are need
What do you mean. Are you a child taking care of a child ? Are you in danger ?
My daughter has a huge knot on the side of her head behind ear area and then a few hours later had a nose bleed. The knot feels like it’s went down but should i go to the e.r.
If you are worried and they had a huge blow to the head, you should always get them checked out.
I’m the only good one who actually cares about children all these other people don’t even care about you think I care about children more than ever they are so good they don’t even know who they’re talking to their so good I take care of children so good and I love all children there’s such wonderful Angels they are so good they picked they take care of their dog that they play with their stuff and I don’t really be bad to have bloody noses have a black eye and I care about that all the other people don’t even care if they if they spread their me they don’t even care so but I do
My 16 month old daughter fell off the bed a few feet up and hit her nose and mouth on the hardwood floor while asleep. Right after, she had a short nosebleed (wiped it once or twice). Should I take her in? It’s 2am
Dear Alexa, I do hope your daughter is okay. Keep a close eye on her for the next 48 hours and if concerned, get her checked out. A minor nosebleed on its own is not a cause for worry.
My son had a blow to the head catching his eye (wooden sandpit lid) his eye instantly swelled and was bleeding from a small slit on his eyelid, I iced it cleaned it checked for any sign of breakage was very squishy now the swelling is going down he’s started to get a small trickle of blood from his nose, the bruising is coming out on his face cheek and above the eye, should I be worried about the nose bleed? It’s not heavy just small trace every now n then
I don’t think the nosebleed is anything to worry about. Please keep checking on his eye and get medical advice is worried at all
I ran into a tree branch while riding my bike 3 days ago. I had a significant nose bleed and banged up my cheek with lots of swelling, though no obvious signs of anything broken. I am now experiencing sinus pressure like it feels like I need to blow my nose way in there and my ears are clogged but I’m nervous to blow it. I also feel tightness in my neck glands below my ears and like my throat is tender. Is that typical after such an event? I’ve never had a nose bleed before. I have mild dizziness but it’s just this feeling of fullness in my sinuses I think is causing it. And having had a concussion before, I don’t think I have that either. Thank you!
Please go and get yourself checked out and I hope you feel better soon
My son is almost 3, he banged his head on a glass table earlier today and cut it open, the glass did not break so there is nothing embedded in the wound, its around a cm long and half cm wide on his eyebrow and has bled quite alot. I have taken him to a pharmacy for advice and bought not alcohol wipes and some butterfly stitches which are s**t I’ve struggled to keep him still to attempt to put them on they just fall off due to the bleeding, he’s overwhelmed and now panics when I go near his head, I’m scared to take him to hospital due to the pandemic but I’m also scared because I don’t know what to do my anxiety is through the roof. He’s currently sleeping right now in his own bedroom although the butterfly stitches had come off abit when I last checked on him around an hour causing more bleeding for him and more panicking for me, can you please help.
So sorry to hear about your son. I would strongly urge you to go to the hospital Emergency or Minor Injuries Department and get medical advice. It may be that his wound needs gluing or stitching and without this he has a scar. They should have safe non-covid areas for you to attend. best wishes and good luck Emma
I was cooking dinner when I heard a bang. My daughter (nearly 2) had fallen down the stairs. I didn’t realise she was there so I dont know how high up she was. I ran out to find her curled up face down at the bottom of the stairs. She got up and cried and had a cuddle. Checked her over and she seemed okay other than a small amount of blood in the left nostril. When I asked her if it hurt anywhere she said it was just her nose. Over the next few hours her behaviour has been fine. There are no visible marks either. Now we are all in bed I am panicking that I should have got her checked because I don’t know how far she fell or what she hit. I have been checking on her in bed and she seems okay but sounds a little snuffly. I guess there is a little dried blood in her nose still?
Just keep and eye on her and look out for anything unusual, as per my blog. If you are worried, please get her checked out
My 2 and half yr old daughter bumped her forhead on a handrail.
No bump or redness
Just slight nose bleeding which
stopped in few minutes.
She is acting quite normal as well.
Should I get her checked?
My son bang his head on a table about two weeks ago and a lump came up on his forehead and it not go down for about a week. The lump has gone down but it feel as if the skill is fracture.
He has nose bleed previously but this morning his nose started to bleed, I don’t know if it is the heat or the blow to his head.
I am very worried, please can you advice.
My almost 3 year old feel off the bed I’m not sure if she landed face down or on the back of her head. She cried for a few minutes and had a very slight bloody nose just out of one nostril. Wiped the blood away and there was no more. She seems fine other wise. Should I take her to get checked out? We are also in AZ and in very dry heat on vacation. Could it be from the heat? She has no bumps or bruises from the fall.
Hi my 2 year old fell off the table she was standing on and hit herself I’m not sure how she fell i was upstairs cleaning i left her with my eldest daughter but she was bleeding from one nostril her nose seems abit swollen she’s now sleeping what shall i do
I got hit on the head with an iron bottle so hard that the bottle dented even though I didn’t get any bleeds or even a bump I still experience a headache and have blood mixed with my mucus and sometimes it is a clear transparent fluid. They don’t leak It only comes out when blow my nose since I have a cold. I only have headaches but the pain is subsiding with passing time. Should I be worried?
Hey,
My son (6 yr old) was playing on a inflatable slide and he managed to hit his face. One nostril was bleeding, it wasn’t much and stopped pretty quickly. It’s been 2 days and he was a bit upset tonight and it started to bleed again. Can’t see any bruising and he says that it’s not sore. Should I be worried?
Hi, my 4 year old son has von ville brands disease. He fell off the slide at preschool today (he says from the top) and hit his face, slightly bruised and swollen on his cheekbone several hours later he’s then had a nose bleed. Do you think he’ll need checking over??
Hello, me and my friend was playing outside than one of our younger friend that was 10 years hit his head in a fence and he hit his head and started to get a nosebleed we were so worried so we called our parents immediately but can you say something that can help him because we are scared if something bad gonna happen to him but before that we asked him if he felt unconscious but he said no
my son is 7 years old and had a covid test done where they put the swab up the nose. later on he banged his head trying to get in the car. then later in the night he got a bad bloody nose , i saw a tiny blood lot in the tissue, and he complained about a headache. should i be worried????
my 7 year old got a covid test done , after getting done while getting in the car he banged his head. later in the night he got a nose bleed and i saw a tiny blood clot in the tissue. he also complained of a headache. should i be worried????
My son is two and he was jumping on the bed to land on his back. As he did it he fell onto the wooden foot board on his neck. There’s no bruising or bumps. Tonight I noticed small amount of dry blood in one of his nostrils. Is this something to be worried about?
If he seems absolutely fine, other than a bit of dry blood in one of his nostrils, then I wouldn’t worry. However, if you see any of the signs mentioned in the article, please get him checked out ASAP