How to Perform First Aid on Children Or Infants with a Head Injury

When your baby starts to crawl, they can bump their head on furniture or other objects and when starting to walk they may be unsteady and fall. Most of the time the injury will be minor and they might not even cry, but sometimes a bump on the head can be more serious. 

What to look for

• bump or bruise to the head 
• possible head wound 
• dizziness or vomiting 
• short period of unresponsiveness

What to do

Follow the steps below:

Step 1 

If you think your baby has a minor head injury sit them on your lap and hold something cold against the injury to help reduce the swelling, like an ice pack or a frozen bag of vegetables wrapped in a tea towel. 

Step 2 

While you do this try to assess the baby’s level of response using the AVPU scale: 

• Alert – Are they alert? Are their eyes open? 
• Voice – Can they respond to you if you talk to them? 
• Pain – Does the baby respond to pain? If you flick the bottom of their foot, or pinch their ear lobe, do they respond to you by moving or opening their eyes? 
• Unresponsive – Are they unresponsive to all of the above? If they are unresponsive or you are worried, call 999 or 112 for emergency help.

Step 3 

If they have any wounds, treat them by applying direct pressure to the wound. 

Step 4 

Keep checking the baby’s level of response until they’ve recovered or medical help arrives. 

There is different guidance on what to do if an adult has a head injury.