Bumps to the head - when to go to A&E

[Mij]

I have a feeling I'm going to get flamed here, but hell, I'm interested.

I've always been a bit blase about toddler bumps (and I'm talking knocks and small falls, not out of first floor windows or anything), partly because I have first aid training and so do watch DD like a hawk for other signs of poorliness (throwing up, listlessness, unusual tiredness etc) after a collision or fall, and partly because I assume that if every toddler who bumped its head was taken to their local children's (or general) A&E the NHS would collapse.

But, I have to admit, the whole Natasha Richardson thing has brought me up short - particularly as DD had a very accident prone day yesterday, culminating in her falling off a swing with a right old wallop.

So - when do you sit tight and watch, and when do you take them to hospital, and risk being treated like a moron by the triage nurse?

I would say if you've done the whole first aid course then you know what to expect - however, if you don't feel right, trust YOUR instincts. You are the mum and you know your child.

They'd much rather see a child in AnEthen not see one..

I've done a first aid course too and know what to look out for, but when my DD fell down the stairs and landed WHACK on a hardwood floor I did get her checked out.

How is DD today?

Very stroppy so I'd say perfectly fine . I did check on her a couple of times in the evening and was very happy when she woke me up at 3.30 getting in to bed with us, as that was normal behaviour and meant she was alive .

I suppose I felt the need to re-evaluate my 'quick cuddle, a magic kiss and jollying along' response to almost any injury that didn't result in bone or internal organ being visible!

Some things shake your instincts. Someone dying of a bump to the head that they brushed off as nothing at the time, was one of them.

I have never taken a child to a&e for a head injury and with 4 children, 3 of them boys, we have had loads. The only time I was a bit unsure was after my daughter fell backwards off my lap onto a concrete floor and was a bit sick afterwards, while crying.

We took my DS to A&E after a bump on his had last wek. He seemed fine, although he had a big lump on his head, but they took it extremely seriously.

I would now always take to A&E with a bump on the head.

what's worse, being laughed at as a neurotic mother or a "talk and die head" injury like NR?

geepers, I cannot believe you didn't take your DD to A&e when she was sick after a head injury, that's one of the warning signs that things aren't Ok!!!!!!!!

The thing is I guess Natasha Richardson was travelling at some kind of speed when her head injury occurred?

I've only been to A&E twice in 19yrs with head bumps both times with DS, once he was unrousable after falling backwards off the bed, he didn't respond when a GP pinched his earlobe so we were sent to A&E where he woke up the minute the A&E doctor touched him and demanded "Who are you!?" and the second time when he did really concuss himself after a really nasty fall. He had medically induced Addison's at teh time and needed a drip for a few days.

I'd still sit tight and watch even now but, like you I have first aid training.

trixy she was sick because she was crying. I'd know if something was wrong, I've got four children and they are all alive and kicking, even after some horrible knocks to the noggin.

There is no way I am going to a&e every time my child gets an egg on his/her head. I'd be there every week!

Head injuries like NR's are very rare and they don't happen that often. Also you cannot really tell if somebody has sustained one without a scan, and if they were acting perfectly normally the guidelines would not suggest scanning.

Unfortunatly theses things happen and are mostly untreatable.

Also to be noted the NR did see a doctor after it happened and there seems to have been nothing obvious that could have been picked up. It just seems like one of those really unfortunate occurances that can't be foreseen

But that's the thing isn't it - you know it's rare, you know there may well have been nothing anyone could have done, even if the paramedics had seen her straight away, but it still brings you up short and makes you ask questions about your own judgement.

As she was on a nursery slope, I'm not sure how fast NR would have been going.

I spent a lot of time in A&E as a child, as I had a habit of running headlong (literally) into all manner of metal, glass and concrete things.

trixy, of course I'd rather risk being treated like an hysteric if I was sure I was right about illness or injury, but that's what I've had a wobble about I suppose - it feels like my instincts have been shaken up a bit.

ds was out with us yesterday at a family event. There was a bouncy castle type thing there and he tumbled over the edge. He landed right on top of his head, but the rest of his body was sideways so you can imagine my fears about his neck!

He was stunned when we rushed to him, but then started crying. We checked him over and I took him straight away to the St. John Ambulance.

I don't always do this with bumps, like Mij I'm a trained first aider and I know the signs to look out for, but I was very worried about his neck, he did land at an awkward angle. You can't be too careful with these things, they can have a broken neck and know nothing about it.

The thing with Natasha Richardson though pisses me off a bit. The media make it out like it was just a bit of a tumble. However the ambulance WAS called - so it must have been more than just a light tumble. She had a fall and landed on her head! Ok, she said she was fine and didn't want treatment, but it was the duty of those first aiders to get her checked out anyway. The ambulance never should have been sent back.

She was asked twice to be seen by the medics but refused. I would have been insistent - they have left themselves open to possible court action. But this was no minor tumble, not judging by the concerns of those around her at the time.

She was very very unlucky and no doubt everyone involved is thinking "what if..?" but I do wish the media wouldn't keep saying it was a small tumble. It clearly wasn't.