
Head injury first aid
Whakarauoratanga wharanga upoko
Phone 111 for an ambulance if someone has had a knock on the head and:
- is not alert or not responsive
- is bleeding badly from anywhere on their head
- becomes drowsy and starts vomiting
- you suspect a serious head injury.
Stay with them until the ambulance arrives. If they become unconscious, follow these instructions.
Any head injury can be serious, although most are mild. Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. It's important to remember that signs of a head injury can show up 24 to 48 hours after the injury.
How to tell if someone has a head injury
If someone has had a knock to their head, they may have obvious signs of an injury to their head or face such as bleeding and bruising. Other signs of a head injury include:
- feeling dizzy or light-headed
- feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
- not being able to remember what happened or recent events
- having a headache, which can be severe
- being confused
- leaking blood or watery fluid from their ears or nose
- being unconscious or semi-conscious
- blurred or double vision.
Helping someone who has a head injury
- Sit the person down.
- Apply a cold cloth or ice wrapped in a cloth to the site of their injury.
- If they have a bleeding wound, apply direct firm pressure to the wound to stem the bleeding. Do not apply pressure if you suspect a skull fracture.
- Check the person's airway and breathing. If they become unconscious, follow these instructions.
Getting medical help
It's best to get the person checked by a doctor after any head injury. This is especially important if they have a severe headache, had any loss of consciousness or have a concussion.
See a doctor urgently if their symptoms get worse or if they develop new symptoms.
ACC has more advice about how to recognise concussion on the sports field.
Also follow the instructions in the KidsHealth page on caring for your child after a head injury.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
MedlinePlus – Head injury first aid. Retrieved August 2016.
Ministry of Health – Head injury and concussion (https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/accidents-and-injuries/head-injury-and-concussion). Retrieved July 2019.
New Zealand Resuscitation Council Whakahauora Aotearoa. Retrieved July 2019.
New Zealand Resuscitation Council Whakahauora Aotearoa – ANZCOR Guideline 9.1.4 – Head injury. Retrieved July 2019.
St John – Head injury. Retrieved August 2016.
Image and embedded video sources
Child fallen off bike image from Shutterstock (image ID 256379845). July 2016.
Page reference: 286092
Review key: HIFAD-141030