Write an article based on this "Assess the victim. Check for physical symptoms. Check for cognitive symptoms. Assess consciousness. Watch the victim afterwards."
Examine the wound and look carefully at the victim. Check to see if the victim has a bleeding head wound. Concussions might not bleed on the surface, but under the scalp, creating a "goose egg" or a hematoma (a large bruise). Visible external injuries are not always a good way to tell if someone has a concussion since some very minor scalp wounds bleed profusely, while some less visible impact injuries can cause major brain impairment. Physical symptoms to look for include signs of basilar skull fracture, Battle's sign (a swollen bruised area that appears several days after a skull fracture because blood has leaked into the area behind the ear), raccoon eyes, and rhinorrhea (leakage of cerebrospinal fluid). Mild and severe concussions can result in many physical symptoms. Look for any of the following symptoms: Loss of consciousness. Severe headache. Light sensitivity. Double or blurred vision. Seeing "stars", spots or other visual anomalies. Loss of coordination and balance. Vertigo. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in legs and arms. Nausea and vomiting. Amnesia. Obvious confusion. Since a concussion is an ailment of the brain, concussions often disrupt brain function. These disruptions include: Unusual irritability or excitability. Disinterest or difficulties with concentration, logic, and memory. Mood swings or outbursts of inappropriate emotions and tearfulness. Drowsiness or lethargy. When checking for a concussion, it is important to know whether or not the victim is conscious and know his or her level of cognitive function. To check the consciousness of the victim, try the AVPU code: A - Is the victim alert? - Does the victim watch you with their eyes? Does he answer your questions? Does he respond to normal environmental stimuli? V - Does the victim respond to voice? - Does the victim respond when spoken to, even if the response is small and not completely alert? Does he need to be yelled at to respond? A victim can respond to verbal commands and not be alert. A response of "Huh?" when you speak to them means they are verbally responsive, yet not alert. P - Does the victim respond to pain or touch? - Pinch skin to see if there is movement or if the victim opens his eyes. Another technique is to pinch or poke the nail bed. Be careful when doing this; you do not want to cause unnecessary harm to the victim. You are simply trying to get a physical response from him. U - Is the victim unresponsive to anything attempted? Most concussion symptoms appear within minutes of the injury. Others appear hours later. Some symptoms can change days later. Keep a watch on the victim and call a doctor if symptoms worsen or change.