When kids are in sports bumps and bruises are all too common. But sometimes it’s hard to know when a bump on the head is something more severe like a concussion. A concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury in which the brain can get tossed around in the skull. They are typically caused by a fall or a blow to the head and in some cases can lead to loss of consciousness. If you have kids who play any sort of sport it’s extremely important to be able to determine if your child has a concussion and what you should do to help them.

Signs your child has a concussion…
1. Nausea and vomiting
2. Dizziness and blurred vision
3. Issues with their memory
4. Headaches
5. Balance issues and vertigo
6. Different sleeping patterns i.e. sleeping more or less than usual
7. Change in mood or affect

If your child exhibits any of these symptoms after a fall in sports or a blow to the head there are several things you must do.

Monitor them
Look to see if there are any changes in their mood or behavior.

Use ice to reduce swelling
If they have a bump from falling ice will help to reduce the inflammation and swelling. Ice should be used for 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. Never longer periods than 20 minutes.

Let them get some rest
Your brain heals itself when you’re sleeping. So rest is the best thing for your child. But still monitor them while they are sleeping to see if there are any changes in their breathing.

Make sure they get lots of fluids
Keep them hydrated with water or coconut water for additional electrolytes.

Schedule a doctors appointment
If you think your child hit their head, or they show signs of a concussion it’s important to get them to the urgent care right away. If they took a hard hit but it doesn’t seem like they hit their head it is probably okay to wait and get them in to their doctor the next day. But don’t let it wait. They still need to see the doctor in order to be sure nothing serious is going on.

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