A recent study by the brain injury charity, Headway has highlighted that the UK general public is unwilling to deal with head injuries. This is often due to a lack of confidence to take action, despite two-thirds of people knowing what to do. Of more than 2,000 adults surveyed, just one in four people felt that they were confident enough to move an injured person. Just 16% were willing to perform CPR. Only 46% of respondents were ready to provide first aid for a person with a head injury.
Fear and Lack of Confidence Causes Avoidable Delay
This surprising lack of confidence to act is often due to fear. The fear of causing further damage is genuine, and rightly so, but it sadly causes avoidable delays. What if someone does have some knowledge but is reluctant to come forward because they are not confident enough? If nobody who confidently knows what to do is available, the situation can become very serious. Early intervention is critical for someone with a head injury as, left untreated for too long; such injuries can lead to long-term and potentially irreversible damage and be life-threatening.
Confidence to Act Comes From Up to Date First Aid Training
Significant accidents are, thankfully, not an everyday occurrence, but someone needs to take assertive control when they do occur to limit adverse outcomes. The confidence to take that control comes from education and knowing how to respond. Fear is a natural emotional response when confronted with any accident. When armed with the right tools and knowledge, your fears are replaced with the confidence to act and achieve the best possible outcome.
Up to Date, First Aid Training Empowers Confident Action
Most people may have done an introductory first aid course at some time in their life (Cubs, Scouts etc.) and retained some first aid knowledge. However, even the best of us forget things over time and could get confused when put on the spot, such as in an emergency. A real emergency can only serve to make matters worse. Regular first aid training benefits because your knowledge is fresh in your mind and relevant to current legislation and first aid practices. This empowers you to act confidently and quickly.
First Aid Training Applies to Individuals and in Work Places
Responsible employers often provide first aid training, but such skills are necessary for everyone in all walks of life and not just within work environments. Some people believe their one training course ten years ago is sufficient and do not appreciate the need to update their existing first aid training. Therefore, it is not surprising that many experience self-doubt and an unwillingness to act when confronted with a significant injury. Just think for a minute. How up-to-date are you? When did you last complete a formal first aid training course? How confident do you feel you would be when presented with someone with a head injury, someone that you could care about?
Awareness of the signs and symptoms of a head injury makes it easier to know when medical help is needed and take confident action. First aid education is, therefore, a necessity. Understanding the signs to look for and action to take means you are more likely to be willing and able to help someone who has suffered an injury.
What to Do When Witnessing a Head Injury
If in any doubt, it is always best to err on the cautious side and seek medical help. To ensure a positive outcome when witnessing any head injury:
1. call 999 immediately to ensure appropriately trained help is aware. The 999 operators will likely provide you with clear, guided instructions on how best to help the injured person. (How you respond can mean the difference between a positive or negative outcome.)
2. whilst awaiting an ambulance, try to keep the person as still as possible and do not move them unless necessary.
3. apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth if the patient is bleeding heavily from their head or face.
When someone falls and hits their head, it is important to:
1. stay calm and assess the situation
2. firstly, check they are conscious and breathing
3. if they are unconscious, or have difficulty breathing, IMMEDIATELY call for medical help
4. when you are sure medical help is on its way, then begin providing basic first aid care
5. ensure that the airway is clear and that profuse bleeding is not present
6. keep the person warm
7. monitor their condition closely until medical help arrives
Head Injury Symptoms Do Not Always Appear Immediately
Learning the signs and symptoms of a head injury makes a significant difference as it is not always easy to spot. It is important to understand that:
· head injury symptoms do not always appear immediately following injury
· symptoms can appear many hours after a head injury is sustained
· a person with a head injury may remain conscious
· it is possible not to feel any pain following a head injury
Signs and symptoms of a head injury that may require medical attention include:
1. a raised, swollen area on their head likely to be from a bump or bruise
2. superficial cuts or cuts on the scalp
3. a headache
4. confusion
5. dizzy or light-headed
6. noise and light sensitivity
7. irritable or grumpy
8. balance issues
It is estimated that around 300,000 head injuries occur annually in the UK. Of these, approximately one-third will result in hospital admission, and a further one-tenth will require emergency treatment. This means that, daily, around 1,000 people will suffer a head injury that is serious enough to warrant medical attention. Despite this, it is thought that many head injuries go untreated because people are either unaware of the seriousness of the injury or they do not have the confidence to deal with it.
With the proper care, most people fully recover from head injuries. So do not be afraid to act if you see someone in need - your quick thinking could save their life. If more people were confident in their ability to provide first aid quickly, many more lives would be saved each year.
Remember, you could be the difference between life and death.
Whether you are an individual or a corporate who would like to learn more about head injuries and how to deal with them, please get in touch with Miriam at hello@mirbly.com.
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