Each year over a million people visit hospital with a head injury. Approximately 135,000 of those will have to be admitted to hospital because of the severity of their injury.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) define a ‘head injury’ as any trauma to the head, other than shallow injuries on the surface of the face.
Brain damage
Severe head injuries usually mean that the brain has been damaged in some way. Despite the protective bone covering of the skull, the brain surface can get torn and bruised as it bumps against the skull, and blood vessels and nerves can rip.
These injuries can cause bleeding, swelling, or a build up of fluid in the head, putting pressure on the brain and sometimes causing brain damage.
Road traffic accidents
Road traffic accidents are one of the most common causes of severe head injuries. Injuries can also result from falls, assault and accidents either in the home or the workplace.
Severe head injuries always require treatment in hospital. If someone is unconscious following a head injury, even if it is for a short period of time, they should always visit the hospital
This is so that they can be fully assessed, to check that they have not caused any serious damage to their head, or the rest of their body.
Severe head injuries require prompt treatment, so make sure that you always seek medical assistance straight away.
If you have a major head injury, it is likely that you will be unable to drive until your condition improves. See the 'useful links' section for how to inform the DVLA about medical conditions.
