Emergency · 4 min read · 2026-05-28

Head injury at home

A child who cries immediately, is consolable, and then plays may be watched. A person who was knocked out, even briefly, or who is on blood thinners, needs a hospital.

This page is general education for families in Gurugram. It is not a diagnosis, a medicine list, or a reason to skip a clinician. Doses are deliberately not given.

In plain language

The brain can bleed slowly. The dangerous signs are sometimes delayed: worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, one pupil that looks larger, weakness, a fit, or a person who is harder to wake. Blood from the ear, clear fluid from the nose after a crash, or a bruise behind the ear are also reasons to be seen. Do not give a sleeping tablet. It is reasonable for a child to sleep if they can be woken and are otherwise well. Check them. Do not shake them awake every five minutes all night if a clinician has already examined them and given a plan.

Signs worth noticing

These are the clues families usually notice first. One of them, on its own, is not a diagnosis.

A bump, a cry, and normal behaviour afterwards.
A brief headache that settles.
Loss of consciousness, even if they seem fine now.
Vomiting more than once, a fit, or increasing drowsiness.

What usually sits underneath

The skull can be intact and a vein underneath can still tear. Older adults and people on blood thinners bleed more easily. Alcohol confuses the picture, which is why a ‘drunk’ person after a fall still needs observation.

Care that is reasonable at home

Apply pressure if the scalp is bleeding. Scalp wounds bleed more than you expect.
Use a cold pack wrapped in cloth for the bump.
Watch for the warning signs for the next day.
Do not feed a person who is vomiting or drowsy.

These steps are for someone who is otherwise stable. If the picture is changing quickly, skip the home trial and come in.

When waiting is a bad idea

Any loss of consciousness, a fit, or a neurological sign.
A fall from a height, a road crash, or a blow with an object.
A older person, a baby, or anyone on a blood thinner.

How Rao Lokram Charitable Trust fits in

Come and say there has been a head injury. If they are drowsy or have fitted, use emergency services rather than a slow private car if you have a choice. OPD runs Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Near Rockford School, Anaj Mandi Chowk, Kadipur Road, Shakti Park, Sector 10A, Gurugram, Haryana. Call 98185 48492 or 70423 28047. There is no appointment form on this website.

Questions people ask

Can I let them sleep?

After a minor bump, yes, if they are rousable and have been checked. After a significant injury, a clinician should decide.

Does a X-ray of the skull settle it?

Not always. The concern is the brain, which an ordinary skull film does not show. The examination decides who needs a scan.

What about a nosebleed after a bump?

A ordinary nosebleed may be local. Clear fluid or a heavy injury needs a look.

If this sounds like you, bring the article on your phone if you want, but let the clinician examine you. Old reports and a list of current medicines make the visit shorter.