(Newswire.net — April 30, 2020) —
Since the world has been on lockdown thanks to COVID-19, people have had to come up with some rather innovative ways to keep busy around the house. That means all of those household projects that have been put off for months or even years are finally getting done. It also means that there is a rather significant opportunity for injury as people complete these projects. Even if you’re agile and rather adept at climbing a ladder, you still have a risk of falling off. For those who are less mobile, there is an even greater chance that something could go wrong. The question is, what happens if you or someone you love suffers a head injury during quarantine? It’s important to understand how these types of injuries could potentially happen as well as what you should do about it if you find yourself in a similar situation.
How Do Brain Injuries Happen When Working Around the House?
As previously mentioned, head injuries can and do happen when you work around the house. The most obvious cause involves falling from a ladder or taking a fall from a roof, but a head injury can happen any time you strike your head on a hard surface. That includes having something fall on your head or even hitting your head on something while you are working. If your head comes into contact with another surface, you run the risk of suffering a head injury. That injury may be relatively minor or it could be life-threatening. How are you supposed to know how serious an injury is if you’re in quarantine? Fortunately, there are some basic guidelines you can follow.
Is the Injury Serious?
Before you read any further, it’s crucial to realize that any head injury can be potentially serious. That said, you can follow some basic steps to get a better idea of the potential magnitude of the injury. If there is someone else in your household, you can have them ask you some very basic questions such as your name, date of birth and where you live. They might look at your pupils by shining a light into them. The purpose of this is to see if your pupils are equal in size and whether or not they react appropriately to light. If you’re alone, you can mentally ask yourself the same questions in order to make sure you can easily recall the information. It’s also important to make sure you don’t have any issues with vision that you didn’t already have before the injury occurred. If you’re dizzy or sleepy, it could be an indication that something is wrong.
Consulting a Doctor During Quarantine
Even if you don’t think your head injury is serious, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor. Thanks to telemedicine, you can explain the injury to a doctor, along with any symptoms you may be experiencing. He or she can then help you decide what the next step should be. If possible, have someone that lives in the house keep watch for the next twenty-four hours, making sure to wake you every three to four hours during that time period. Of course, if you’re experiencing severe pain, dizziness or vision problems, you should call 911 right away, as this could be a life-threatening medical emergency.
What Else Should You Know?
One of the things that makes accurately diagnosing a head injury so tricky is that the symptoms aren’t always immediately identifiable. Unfortunately, there have been cases where individuals hit their head, believed they were fine and went to sleep, only to pass away because of bleeding or swelling in the brain. Head injuries should not be taken lightly. Even during quarantine, it’s much better to be safe than sorry.
Most people will eventually suffer some type of head injury in their lives. The majority of cases result in relatively minor concussions that resolve without any issues. In some cases, the person in question may not even realize they have suffered a head injury. However, every one of these cases has the potential to be quite serious. That’s why a head injury should never be taken lightly. If you suspect that you have suffered such an injury, consult with your physician as quickly as possible and then follow the guidelines set forth. If the situation gets worse, do not be afraid to contact emergency medical professionals right away.