National Concussion Awareness Day is Coming 

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, that results from the brain being affected by a blow or impact to the head or body. Each year on the third Friday in September, the nation comes together to observe National Concussion Awareness Day. This year’s campaign falls on September 20th. Let’s take a moment to brush up on some basic facts about concussions, warning signs, and when it is time to seek medical attention. 

General Information on Concussions 

A concussion stretches and injures the blood vessels in the brain, preventing it from functioning normally. In most cases, symptoms appear quickly after an injury. In some cases, though, injuries take hours or even days to present. Concussion symptoms usually resolve within 10 to 14 days. However, if the injury is severe, symptoms can persist for months or longer (this is called post-concussion syndrome, or PCS). Possible symptoms of a concussion that you should keep an eye out for include: 

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Vomiting or nausea
• Trouble thinking normally
• Memory problems
• Issues walking
• Vision problems
• Dizziness
• Mood changes
• Changes in normal sleep patterns
  

Some of the top causes behind concussions are motor vehicle accidents, falls (like a fall at work), assaults, and sports injuries. Certain individuals face particularly high risk for concussions, such as young children and older adults. Not only do these age groups face disproportionately high risks for concussion, but it can also take them longer to recover after they sustain one. People who have had concussions in the past are more likely to have them again in the future. Current studies estimate that somewhere between one and three million American adults visit emergency rooms with concussions each year. These numbers do not account for the potentially millions more who sustain concussions but do not seek medical care for their injuries.

Concussions in Children and Teens 

According to national estimates, millions of kids and teens are diagnosed with concussions every year. In 2022, for example, 2.3 million were diagnosed with a concussion or some other type of traumatic brain injury. One of the main reasons that young children face such high risks for concussion is because their musculoskeletal and nervous systems are still developing, leaving them especially vulnerable to serious injury. Teens most commonly sustain concussions associated with youth sports like football, cheerleading, ice and field hockey, soccer and lacrosse. Other primary risk factors for adolescents include bicycle accidents, motor vehicle accidents, fights, and falls.

Kids Health has the following recommendations for when to call a doctor for your child’s injury:

• If the child passes out or loses consciousness
• Is unable to return to school within five days of the injury 
• Is not able to do their usual level of schoolwork after being back in school for two weeks
• Experiences symptoms that are neither improving nor worsening 
• Is still needing medication for headache a week or more after the injury
• Is still having symptoms four weeks after the concussion 

Medical Care for Concussions

It is always advisable to consult with a medical professional after sustaining a concussion, but certain scenarios warrant an immediate call to your doctor or a speedy trip to the emergency room. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you should seek medical attention right away if you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms after a blow or impact to the head:

• Loss of consciousness for any period, no matter how short
• A headache that worsens and does not go away
• Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
• Slurred speech
• Nausea or vomiting
• Significant confusion
• Extreme fatigue or drowsiness
• Convulsions or seizures

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it could mean a serious health event is occurring. Seek urgent medical attention.

In less emergent cases, a doctor will usually diagnose a concussion by asking a variety of questions, like when the injury occurred and what symptoms the patient is experiencing. The doctor may test their patient’s memory with certain questions and, if necessary, medical personnel may conduct imaging of the brain via MRI or CT scanning. Common treatment for mild to moderate concussion often includes rest, avoiding certain physical activities, and taking medications for headaches. Individuals with serious concussions or who experience persistent symptoms may need to see a doctor who specializes in traumatic brain injuries.

If you sustained a concussion resulting from another party’s negligence, like a motor vehicle accident or an unsafe workplace, someone at our firm can help. To learn more about filing a claim for damages, contact a representative online now. 

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.