Initially they have a few symptoms, usually a headache, maybe vision disturbances, maybe a bit of confusion, then they have a lucid period that can be minutes or hours where they feel like they’re normal. If blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove it. If the injury is serious, be careful not to move the person's head. Stop any bleeding by firmly pressing a clean cloth on the wound, unless you suspect a skull fracture.

“Typically they can hit their head … and then they have what’s called a lucid period. Keep the head in line with the spine and prevent movement. “What happened here with Bob Saget is very typical of what happens with what we call an epidural hematoma, which is a high-pressure bleeding inside the brain,” Torres said. This may be what happened with Saget, who, according to his family’s statement, “thought nothing of” his head injury “and went to sleep.” After a head trauma, you may experience an initial “lucid period” before things take a dangerous and possibly fatal turn. However, this does not mean the head injury isn’t serious, Torres warns.

These symptoms may soon subside, and you may think you are fine. “They’re probably going to need a CAT scan of their head to make sure there isn’t any bleeding inside there,” he said, “because there can be subtle signs that build up over time and get to the point where they can’t really be taken care of.” Will symptoms always show up right away after a head trauma?Īfter hitting your head, you may experience some initial symptoms such as a headache or confusion. If someone experiences any of the above symptoms persistently, that signals to Torres that they should be closely monitored.

Signs of serious head trauma