A head injury may consist of one or a combination of the following
conditions: a concussion, a cut or bruise of the scalp, or a fracture
of the skull with injury to the brain and the blood vessels of
the scalp. The damage can range from a minor cut on the scalp
to a severe brain injury which rapidly causes death. Most head
injuries lie somewhere between the two extremes. Usually, serious
skull fractures and brain injuries occur together; however, it
is possible to receive a serious brain injury without a skull
fracture. The brain is a very delicate organ; when it is injured,
the casualty may vomit, become sleepy, suffer paralysis, or lose
consciousness and slip into a coma. All severe head injuries are
potentially life-threatening. For recovery and return to normal
function, casualties require proper first aid as a vital first
step.
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