A closed head injury is sustained when an object hits the head but does not cause the skull to fracture. Even though the object does not make direct contact with the brain, the impact from the closed head injury can still cause brain damage. MedlinePlus recommends seeking emergency medical help after a closed head injury, especially if the victim loses consciousness or displays abnormal behavior.
Rest
New York University Langone Medical Center points out that after a closed head injury, patients need to rest. This means that patients should avoid doing any of their daily activities that are strenuous. Patients also need to avoid activities that may cause excess movements of their heads, such as sports. The University of Notre Dame notes that the patients should rest and restrain from strenuous activity for 24 hours, and have someone look after them for 24 to 48 hours after the injury. This rest prevents second impact syndrome, in which the patient's closed head injury worsens. For children and adolescents, re-injury soon after the initial closed head injury can cause swelling in the brain, which may lead to unconsciousness or death.
Ice the Wound
When an object hits the head, swelling can occur at the location of the injury. The University of Notre Dame explains that to reduce the swelling, patients can put an ice pack to the site of injury. When using an ice pack, patients should not press it too hard into the wound, as that may cause bleeding or discomfort. The Nemours Foundation points out that patients should ice the swelling for 20 minutes at a time, wrapping the ice in a washcloth to prevent frostbite.
Avoid Specific Medications
The New York University Langone Medical Center explains that people who have sustained a closed head injury should not take certain medications as they can result in post-injury complications. For example, MedlinePlus notes that blood thinner and aspirin use after a head injury increases a person's risk for subdural hematoma, or a pooling of blood on the surface of the brain. Closed head injury patients need to avoid these medications as well as alcohol, sedatives and illegal drugs for 48 hours. If in doubt, patients should talk to their doctors about which medications are safe to use after a closed head injury.
Simplify the Diet
The University of Notre Dame points out that during the first 24 hours after the closed head injury, patients need to avoid solid foods. Instead, they can have liquid-based foods, such as soups. Twenty-four hours after the injury, patients can start reintroducing solid foods if they feel they can eat them. If a patient begins to vomit, he should stick to simple foods and consult a doctor.
