If your child has been knocked unconscious, or experienced any of the following, they should seek immediate medical treatment. This could indicate injury other than concussion.

• Loss of consciousness or seizures

• Increasing confusion or irritability

• Severe or increasing headache

• Repeated vomiting

• Unusual behaviour change

• Weakness in arms or legs

• Seizure or convulsion

• Double or blurred vision

• Report of neck pain or spinal cord symptoms - numbness tingling, muscle weakness

• Personal medical history of bleeding disorder or regular medication use that could result in prolonged bleeding, e.g. Warfarin, Aspirin

• Visible skull deformity

During the first two hours, it is important not to leave your child alone. Then, monitor your child for any signs and symptoms over 48 hours. There is no need to wake your child or limit their sleep – rest is important to recovery. During this time, if you notice any of the following, contact your health practitioner, take your child to an ED or Urgent Doctors, or seek medical advice as soon as possible.  

• Headache

• Pressure in head

• Balance problems

• Blurred/double vision

• Neck pain

• Nausea/vomiting

• Dizziness

• Sensitivity to light and/or noise

• ‘Don’t feel right”

• Fatigue

• Drowsiness

It is important to act on symptoms, as ignoring them will prolong recovery.

Informing the your child’s school of the diagnosis and medical advice received is vital to enable them to properly support your child to return to learn.