Our brain is essential to our survival and our bodies generally protect them very well. Unfortunately, despite our body’s natural defenses, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) still happen. Because they are an internal injury that may have no external sign, TBIs will sometimes go unnoticed for quite some time before they are recognized and treated.
The goal after any injury is to ensure that it is cared for as quickly as possible. This promotes healing and prevents the injury from getting any worse. People often assume that TBIs only happen as a result of very intense circumstances like car accidents or long falls from high places, but the reality is that TBIs can be caused by what might appear to be small incidents. When considering TBIs, it is important to be familiar with some basic symptoms so whoever is injured can get the help they need.
A basic rule of thumb when it comes to brain injuries is, if you become unconscious, you need to go to a hospital. Unconsciousness is not a natural state for the body and generally only occurs because something is wrong. One should also be wary of states of general confusion and/or disorientation following an impact.
Because the brain controls so many aspects of our bodily functions, there are many additional symptoms. An important concept to note here is change. If you see something you suspect may be a symptom of brain trauma, but you are not sure, observe the person for a set period of time. This period of time could range from minutes to hours, but remember that you want to ensure treatment as promptly as possible.
If the symptom gets increasingly worse, a headache gets more intense, the individual becomes more irritable and/or confused, they should be treated by medical professionals as soon as possible. The Mayo Clinic has a webpage listing many basic symptoms of traumatic brain injuries and it may act as a valuable resource, but nothing is a substitute for a trained and knowledgeable medical professional.
If the individual who is displaying symptoms is found to have TBI and it was the result of an incident caused by others, that individual may have grounds for legal action. You will want to make sure that you have all medical records and documents associated with the incident organized and readily available. You will also want to contact a legal professional who is knowledgeable of these types of issues. They will be able to provide assistance and support as you go through the process of getting the help the injured individual needs.