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Kids Health Info

Head injuries

  • Go to head injury first aid

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    This page is available in 11 community languages.

    Please note: the information on these translated pages is not an exact translation of this page.

    Key points

    • A head injury is any knock, bump, or blow to the head – big or small.
    • Head injuries can be mild, moderate, or severe.
    • Most head injuries are mild. You can care for your child at home if they do not have any signs of concussion – as long as they did not injure their head at high speeds or fall from a height above one metre.
    • Moderate or severe head injuries are less common in children, but they can be serious. Symptoms often set in right after the injury, but they can take a few hours to develop. If you think your child has a moderate or severe head injury, take them to see a doctor or health professional.
    • Call an ambulance (000) immediately if your child injured their head at high speeds or from a height above one metre, they lose consciousness (pass out), they keep vomiting, or they have severe symptoms that do not get better.
    • Concussion is a type of mild head injury that temporarily changes how the brain works. It does not show up on a CT scan.
    • Children with concussion usually start getting better within a few days and fully recover within two weeks, but it can take longer for some children.

    Head injury – return to school and sport

    What is a head injury?

    A head injury is any knock, bump, or blow to the head – no matter how minor.

    It is common for children to hit their head. In most cases, this just causes a minor head injury, resulting in a bruise or lump. However, some head injuries can affect how the brain works.

    What is concussion?

    Concussion is a type of mild head injury. It happens when the brain moves inside the skull, usually due to a head knock, or violent change in speed, such as a car accident. This movement can cause short-term changes to the brain, including:

    • Physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, poor balance, and sensitivity to light or noise
    • Mood and emotional changes, such as anxiety, irritability, confusion, and sadness
    • Sleep problems, such as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
    • Changes in thinking, such as brain fog, trouble focusing, slower thinking, and finding it hard to remember things.

    Concussion versus brain bleed

    A brain bleed – also known as intracranial bleeding – is a rare but serious injury that can cause severe head injury symptoms. It is different to concussion. Concussion is an injury to the brain cells, whereas a brain bleed is an injury to the blood vessels in the brain. It can create serious pressure inside the head, and may require surgery or other medical care.

    Concussion does not show up on a CT (computer tomography) scan, but a brain bleed does.

    Signs and symptoms of head injuries

    It is important to watch your child carefully for 24 to 48 hours after any head injury. If they develop new signs or symptoms, or you are worried about them, speak with a doctor for advice.

    The table below compares mild head injuries with and without concussion. However, if your child injured their head at high speed or from a height over one metre, call an ambulance (000) immediately – even if they do not have concussion symptoms.

    Mild head injury – no concussion

    Mild head injury – concussion
    Common signs and symptoms
    • Bump, bruise, and/or cut on their head
    • Some pain where they hit their head
    • Alert and acting normally.
    		 Common signs and symptoms
    • Bump, bruise, and/or cut on their head
    • Pain where they hit their head
    • Acting different than usual
      • For example, seeming quiet, confused, struggling to remember things or having trouble focusing
    • Physical symptoms such as a headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or sensitivity to light or noise
    • Vomiting
    • Feeling irritable, anxious, or sad.
    What to do
    • Care for your child at home, and watch them for signs of concussion.
      • Seek medical care if your child develops concussion symptoms.
    		What to do
    • Seek medical care.

    Moderate to severe head injury

    If your child has a moderate or severe head injury, they may:

    • have a bump, bruise, and/or cut on their head
    • feel pain where they hit their head
    • have severe signs and symptoms, such as:
      • losing consciousness (passing out)
      • ongoing vomiting (more than once)
      • seizures, twitching or convulsions
      • bad headache, or headache that keeps getting worse
      • blurred or double vision
      • weakness or numbness in their arms and/or legs
      • slurred or unclear speech
    • have mild concussion symptoms that do not get better within a few days.

    You should call an ambulance (000) immediately if your child:

    • injured their head at high speed or from a high fall
    • loses consciousness (passes out)
    • keeps vomiting and cannot stop
      •
    • has severe concussion symptoms that do not get better after a few hours.

    Seek urgent medical care if your child has other signs and symptoms of a moderate to severe head injury.

    Your child is more likely to have a moderate to severe head injury if they hit their head at high speed or fall from a height above one metre – for example, a high-speed e-scooter accident, or falling from playground equipment.

    First aid for head injuries

    Here are some basic first aid steps to help you care for your child immediately after they injure their head.

    1. Try to stay calm.
    2. Leave your child where they are to start with. This is especially important if they have fallen from a height or hit their head at high speed.
      • If they are unconscious, support their head and call an ambulance (000) immediately. Start CPR if they are not breathing.
      • If you think they may have hurt their neck or spine, or you are not sure, do not move them. Call an ambulance (000) immediately.
      • If you do not think they have hurt their neck or spine, let them get up when they are ready.
    3. 3.Apply a cool compress to the site of your child’s injury and talk to them about how they feel.
      • a.Seek medical attention if your child has any signs or symptoms of concussion.
    4. Care for any cuts or scrapes. You may want to give your child pain-relief medicine if their injury is causing them a headache.

    How to care for head injuries

    No concussion

    If your child does not have any signs or symptoms of concussion, you can safely care for them at home. You may want to give them pain-relief medicine if their injury is causing them a headache.

    It is best to watch your child for 24 to 48 hours after their head injury, in case their condition changes.

    Your child can go back to school and sports when they are feeling well again.

    Concussion

    See a doctor

    You should take your child to see a doctor or health professional if they have any symptoms of concussion. They will assess your child by checking their symptoms and asking them questions. In the Emergency Department, the doctor may choose to watch how your child behaves for a while to see if they get any better.

    The doctor may order a CT scan if they are worried your child has a more serious head injury, such as a brain bleed. A CT machine takes multiple x-rays of the brain and skull, then splices them together to form a 3D image. Concussion does not show up on a CT scan.

    If the doctor thinks it is safe for your child to go home, they will give you advice on caring for them while they recover, and when to seek medical care again.

    Care at home

    Your child may have a range of concussion symptoms right after their head injury, but they can also take hours or days to set in. Most children start getting better after a few days, and fully recover within two weeks. Some take up to four weeks or have ongoing symptoms that need special care.

    The first few days

    • Your child should have 24 to 48 hours of ‘relative’ rest.
      • This means they can do gentle exercise and light physical activity such as walking, and everyday tasks, such as washing their dishes. They should avoid intense exercise and contact sports.
      • Limit screen time (phones, video games, or computers). Simple and low-stress activities are best, such as drawing or reading.
    • After 48 hours, if your child’s symptoms are getting better, they can gradually return to school.
    • Once they fully returned to school, they can start non-contact physical activity again.
    • Give your child pain-relief medicine if needed to relieve pain. You can give them more every six hours.
    • Continue your child’s normal sleep routine. There is no need to wake them during the night unless a doctor has told you to.
    • Avoid letting them sleep too much during the day, as this can affect how well they sleep at night.
    • Call an ambulance (000) immediately if you have trouble waking your child.
    • Watch your child for new signs and symptoms, or if they seem to get worse over time.

    One to two weeks

    • It is a good idea to track your child’s concussion symptoms.
      • The Concussion Essentials (HeadCheck) app is a free concussion recovery tool created by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. It allows you to input your child’s symptoms, and gives you examples of suitable activities based on their age and symptoms.
    • Take your child to see their regular doctor one to two weeks after their head injury.
      • A doctor should review your child before they return to contact sports. They will check their symptoms and decide whether it is safe for them to start playing again. Many sports codes require a doctor's clearance.
    • Return to your child’s doctor if they still have symptoms four weeks after their head injury.
      • The doctor may refer them to a specialist for ongoing care.
      • If you live in Victoria, your child may be eligible to join the MCRI Concussion Essentials clinic – an evidence-based trial for children and adolescents aged eight to 18 who have had a concussion.

    When to get help

    Call an ambulance (000) if:
    • your child injured their head at high speed or from a height above one metre.
    • your child loses consciousness (passes out)
    • your child is extremely sleepy or hard to wake.
    • your child has a seizure.
    • your child keeps vomiting and cannot stop.
    • your child has bad neck or back pain.

    Go to a hospital if:
    • your child still has a bad headache after pain-relief medicine, or their headache keeps getting worse.
    • your child is getting more confused, irritable, drowsy, or cannot remember what happened.
    • your child vomits more than once.
    • your child has blurred or double vision.
    • your child has weakness or numbness in their arms and/or legs.
    • your child is slurring their speech.
    • your child is awake but acting different than usual – for example, very quiet, anxious, or sad.
    • your child was okay, but their symptoms seem to be worsening.

    See a doctor or health professional if:
    • your child still has moderate concussion symptoms after 24 hours.
    • your child seems to be acting normally, but you want to get them checked.
    • your child has a cut or graze that needs medical care.
    • your child has physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or sensitivity to light or noise.
    • your child still has ongoing concussion symptoms after four weeks.

    Look after your child at home if:
    • they do not have any concussion symptoms.
    • their concussion symptoms start going away after a few hours.

    Common questions about head injuries

    Will a helmet stop my child from getting a head injury while playing sports?

    Whether a helmet will stop your child from getting a head injury depends on the sport.

    For wheeled sports such as bike riding, scooters, and skating, hard-shell helmets are essential.

    For ball sports such as AFL and rugby, the importance of soft helmets is less clear, and research is ongoing. The current understanding is that soft helmets prevent cuts and abrasions but do little to prevent concussion and related symptoms.

    How can I prevent my child from getting a head injury?

    It is important to help your child avoid falls and crashes where possible. However, injuries are part of life for active children. One way to protect your child from getting a head injury is always ensuring they wear hard-shell helmets during wheeled activities and snow sports. Teaching road safety is another key way to prevent injuries. Make sure they follow the road rules and look both ways before crossing.

    Teach your child to assess risk and play within safe limits. For example, if they like climbing trees, explain how they can check whether a tree branch is stable and sturdy to climb on. The goal is not to stop them from playing, but to help them make better decisions.

    What sort of questions will I be asked about my child’s head injury in hospital?

    Doctors and health professionals will ask a range of questions about your child’s head injury to help them assess their condition. It is a good idea to take notes when the injury happens so you can refer back to them. For example, they may ask about when the injury happened, what their behaviour was like after it happened, whether they have vomited, and if they have had a head injury before.

    Does my child need a scan for their head injury?

    Your child will not usually need a CT scan for their head injury if a doctor thinks they only have a concussion. This is because a concussion will not show up on a scan.

    Your child may need a CT scan if a doctor suspects they have a more serious head injury, such as a brain bleed.

    My child has concussion symptoms. Is it safe for them to be at home?

    You should take your child to see a doctor if they have concussion symptoms. If the doctor thinks it is safe for them to go home, they will give you advice on caring for them while they recover. It is important to watch them carefully for 24 to 48 hours after the injury, in case their condition changes.

    Is it true that my child should not go to sleep if they have concussion?

    In most cases of mild concussion, it is safe for your child to go to sleep and keep their normal bedtime routine.

    My child is very fatigued after a head injury. Is this normal?

    Fatigue is a common problem after a head injury. When a child is very fatigued, their brain has to work harder on tasks that they can usually do easily, such as schoolwork, physical routines, watching television, or having a long conversation.

    If your child is still feeling fatigued two weeks after their head injury, it is best to speak with a doctor or health professional. Take them to your nearest hospital emergency department if their fatigue gets worse, or they develop other symptoms such as weakness in their arms and/or legs.

    When can my child go back to childcare or school with a head injury?

    If your child has had a head injury, they should return to school gradually. It is best to speak with their teachers and tell them about your child’s condition.

    My child has had multiple concussions. Will they have ongoing problems?

    Multiple concussions are linked to a higher risk of ongoing problems; however, it is hard to predict which children will be affected. Most children will not have long-term issues, but a few will. The best way to reduce the risk of ongoing problems from concussion is to follow evidence-based advice about relative rest and a gradual return to activity.

    For more information


    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department, with input from Neurosurgery. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed July 2026

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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