Excerpts from CNS Trauma

Once a patient is suspected of having a concussion while assessing, look for the red flags, that include:

• Neck pain or tenderness.
• Seizures.
• Double vision.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Weakness or tingling sensation in arms and legs.
• Vomiting.
• Severe or increasing headache.
• Restlessness or agitation.

Next, make a note of the observable signs such as difficulty in balancing and gait, blank look, confusion, and facial injury.

Then, ask a few simple memory questions followed by an evaluation on the Glasgow Coma Scale if needed.

Finally, if a patient is fully conscious, consider a cervical spine assessment. Never do it when a patient is not lucid or not fully conscious.

Based on the outcome, decide if the patient needs emergency transportation.