First Aid Guides
Head injury
Causes, signs and symptoms
Head injuries can be serious even if you can't see them. They can lead to permanent disability or impairment, or even death. Severe head injuries need to be seen by a doctor.
What can cause a head injury?
The most common causes of serious head injuries are:
- A direct blow to the head
- Falling on to head
- Concussion
- Compression
- Car accidents
- Sport injuries
Symptoms of head injuries
Symptoms of a minor head injury include a bump or bruise, nausea, a mild headache and dizziness.
Signs of a serious head injury can start later. Call Triple Zero(000) straight away if the person with the head injury:
- Vomits
- Trouble seeing, hearing or speaking properly
- Worsening headache
- Confused or acting strangely
- Difficulty staying awake
- Different sized pupils
- Loses balance or feels dizzy
- Loses memory
- Bleeding or discharge from the ear or nose
- Has a seizure or starts twitching or convulsing
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty swallowing or eating
