Everybody likes to go outside to have fun, whether it be to get a tan in, meet up with friends, or just to get out of the house. Unfortunately, though, accidents can happen. Over 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries annually and many of these are sadly children. This should be a serious concern for any parents, though, as young children’s brains are more susceptible to injury since they are still developing.

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Kids are naturally active and often unaware of various safety hazards, meaning that caregivers and parents must be extra vigilant. Therefore, being able to prevent any kind of serious head trauma from occurring is essential. In the event that it does, it’s important that parents and caregivers alike know how to identify the symptoms so that they can get their kid to a doctor as soon as possible.

Common Causes of Blunt Force Head Trauma in Children

It’s no secret that kids aren’t very coordinated and since they’re highly active they are generally unaware of potential dangers. This puts them at a higher risk of injuring themselves and suffering blunt force head trauma when compared to adults. Some of the most common causes of blunt-force head trauma in children include:

  • Having a fall, whether that be from beds, stairs, playground equipment, or on wet surfaces
  • Contact and other types of rough sports, such as football, basketball, rugby, and soccer, as well as other types of activities such as skateboarding and biking that all pose serious head injury risks
  • Car accidents are a lead cause of traumatic blunt force injuries to children’s heads as this is often a result of a lack of seatbelts or the improper use of car seats
  • Basic physical play, such as rough housing, wrestling, or even just high-energy activities can all lead to injury
  • A child may also suffer a traumatic head injury due to a falling object, such as toys, books, or furniture

How to Recognize the Symptoms of Blunt Force Head Trauma in Children

Injuries and accidents do happen but this does not mean that you’re a bad parent, rather that you can’t watch your child like a hawk every second of the day, nor should you need to. With that being said, you do need to be able to recognize the symptoms of a head injury right away, as providing your child with immediate care can make the difference between a minor accident and long-term effects.

Immediate symptoms of head trauma include: a loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, dizziness, difficulty balancing, nausea, vomiting, and slurred speech. However, not all head injuries present themselves immediately. There may also be some delayed symptoms like persistent headaches that worsen over time, increased mood swings or irritability, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, excessive drowsiness, fatigue, and a sensitivity to both noise and light.

The signs of a severe head injury that require immediate medical attention, though, are persistent nausea and vomiting, seizures, unusual eye movements, unequal pupil size, numbness or weakness in the limbs, and extreme drowsiness or a complete inability to wake up. While all symptoms are crucial, the above in particular can indicate severe blunt-force head trauma. 

The Importance of Medical Evaluation After a Head Injury

After suffering a head injury, seeking immediate medical attention is essential to prevent any kind of long-term complications from occurring. Even if the head injury seems minor, it should be examined right away to rule out any kind of internal damage, such as concussions, contusions, or even skull fractures. Medical professionals have a variety of methods at their disposal to determine whether or not a serious head injury has occurred, including basic neurological exams, and imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans. 

These professionals can also provide you with guidance on how to monitor initial symptoms at home. Try to remember that untreated head injuries can often lead to more serious injuries, such as post-concussion syndrome or brain swelling, and both can be extremely serious for the health of your child.

How to Reduce the Risk of Head Trauma in Children

There are many ways to reduce the risk of head trauma occurring in children, with the most prominent of those methods being: 

  • Ensure your kids always wear proper protective gear, with helmets being the number one option, especially in the case of any kind of contact sports, skateboarding, rollerblading, or any other such physical activities
  • Reduce fall risks at home by using nonslip mats, safety gates, and secure your furniture to the walls
  • Use age-appropriate booster or car seats, as well as seat belts when necessary, and ensure that car seats are properly installed
  • During playtime, keep an eye on your young children and take the time to teach your children about how to play safely, but also teach them to contact an adult when an accident has occurred rather than to be scared 
  • For sports, encourage proper training, adherence to rules, and warmups as these can all prevent unnecessary head injuries from occurring by keeping the body loose and the mind sharp

Preventing all injuries will not be possible, but proactive steps can help to reduce the likelihood of a serious accident from occurring. 

Prioritize prevention and safety to avoid injury

Always seek immediate medical attention if your child has suffered a loss of consciousness if their nose is bleeding profusely, or if they have a persistent and worsening headache. Additionally, if they have suffered a seizure, are showing signs of confusion along with repeated vomiting, have difficulty talking or walking, and are suffering from any sudden or unusual behavioral changes, you need to take them to a medical facility right away. 

Whether you are an educator, caregiver, or just a parent, preventing blunt-force head trauma to children should always be a priority. By implementing all the above protective measures, combined with always keeping an eye on your children and getting the medical attention they need right, many serious long-term head injuries can be easily avoided. Children may be naturally adventurous, but by giving them the right tools and knowledge you can help avoid serious injuries from occurring.