Before giving first aid to a person who has banged their temple on a hard surface, you must observe their breathing patterns and the amount of bleeding emitting from the wound. In certain instances, you may have to provide CPR if the victim’s breathing is restricted, and in no instance should you shake the person. Precautions such as preventing washing the head and waiting for emergency medical services to handle the situation are important. While symptoms such as dizziness and headaches are to be expected after knocking your temple, you may need medical attention if such symptoms persist or worsen. A CT scan would be the best way to identify any brain hemorrhages, while prolonged rest is mandatory when experiencing concussions.
The temple is a sort of latch where four of our skull bones meet, and it’s located between the forehead and ear.
Unlike the other areas of the head, the temple is known as a focal area for inducing trauma to the brain.
This is because of the weak structure that it holds in the skull, and a highly sensitive arterial system beneath this temple area, which is why hitting the temple against the edge of a table should not be simply ignored.
How do you give first aid for temple injury? What should you stay away from after hitting your temple? What are the symptoms of head injury?
What types of head injuries can occur from a blow to the temple, and how do you treat such injuries? At what point can you stop worrying about the injury on your temple?
How do you give first aid for temple injury?
If you hit your temple on the corner of the table, the higher chance is that you’ve had a mild blow as the human skull has an exceptionally strong exterior.
However, if someone has received a relatively heavy blow, you need to take immediate action in providing first aid.
The first and foremost rule is to observe the victim’s breathing and airway. If needed, you may have to provide CPR or rescue breathing to the victim.
Secondly, suppose the person’s breathing is normal, yet the person is unconscious. In that case, you’ll have to stabilize the head and neck by keeping your hands on the sides of the victim’s head, holding the head upright, and preventing any motion while waiting for the arrival of medical emergency services.
Thirdly, if you notice any bleeding occurring, you’ll need to find a clean piece of cloth, place it over the wound and apply pressure.
It’s important not to remove this piece of cloth even if it gets drenched in blood. In such an instance, you can place another layer of clothing over the first one.
Fourthly, if the person is vomiting or choking, you’ll need to gently roll the person onto their side, firmly holding their head, neck, and body intact to ease the vomiting process.
If none of such symptoms are shown, and the temple area begins to swell, you can apply a cold compress to the swollen areas. Do not let the ice directly touch the skin, and wrap it in a towel instead.
What not to do after hitting your head hard on the edge of a table?
If you’ve hit your temple on a hard surface, not doing certain things is equally important as first aid.
The following list shows what to stay away from while you wait for medical help:
- Refrain from washing a head wound that has cut deep and is heavily bleeding. You should always consult with your doctor before washing your head after a head injury.
- Do not move a person who has undergone a head injury. It’s important to wait for professional medical services to come to you in such instances.
- Avoid cleaning any debris or removing any object sticking out of a head wound by yourself.
- If the person who had the head injury seems to be in a daze or shows a lack of response to the surrounding, don’t shake the person.
- If a helmet has been worn at the time of injury, don’t remove the helmet if you have doubts about the severity of the head injury.
- Refrain from consuming any alcohol until 2 days after a bad head injury.
- While mild head injuries may not require treatment, don’t ignore any severe symptoms that you may have in balance and other aspects, as symptoms can show up even a few hours after the initial injury.
What are the symptoms of a head injury after a blow to your temple?
If you’ve banged your temple on the edge of a table, you experience singing in your ears, neck pain, and vision problems that fade with time. Your injury is probably mild and nothing to worry about.
But since the head is an intricate part of our body, it’s important to stay alert about even minor changes after a blow to the temple.
The following list contains the signs and symptoms to watch out for in case of head injury.
- Dizziness and disorientation – These are typical symptoms that you’ll experience after a blow to your temple. It may even include problems with focusing and remembering. However, if these symptoms last for more than a week, you might have to get yourself checked.
- Headaches – This is also quite normal given that you’ve knocked your head against a relatively hard surface. However, if headaches develop into intolerable migraines, you might have to go for a checkup to ensure you don’t have a concussion or brain damage.
- Nausea – Vomiting after a blow to your head is normal. But repeated vomiting and persisting nausea would require a closer look at the hospital.
- Changes in behavior – Signs of sudden anger and confusion can be a symptom of neurobiological consequences of traumatic brain injury, as published in a 2011 review by the US National Library of Medicine.
- Seizures – Severe head injuries can even cause seizures. This is uncommon and is seen in 2% to 17% of patients with head injuries, according to a 2015 study.
- Pupil change – If the pupils are dilated and bigger than usual or are different sizes, it could signify a bad head injury. In fact, The US National Library of Medicine states that acute pupillary dilation in a head-injured patient can be a neurological emergency and needs immediate medical aid.
Possible serious outcomes of head injury and how to treat it
When considering the severe impacts of knocking your temple against a hard surface or edge, various head and brain complications could occur, as clearly shown in the given table.
Types of head injuries | How to treat such head injuries |
---|---|
Hematoma – This occurs due to blood clotting outside blood vessels. | Most of the time, hematomas go away on their own after the blood debris is removed and the blood vessel wall is repaired. Sometimes, surgical removal of blood is required. |
Hemorrhage – When there’s uncontrollable bleeding around, and within the brain tissues, it’s known as hemorrhaging. | As brain hemorrhage is quite severe, surgery will be needed to end the bleeding and swelling. Doctors might also prescribe painkillers and osmotic to minimize swelling. |
Edema – This is when you’ve had a brain injury that leads to intense swelling. | Doctors may opt for various treatment procedures such as osmotherapy, diuretics, surgical decompression, and hyperventilation to control the swelling. |
Concussion – This happens when you knock your head so hard that it has led to a brain injury. | Brain concussions can range from mild to severe. Whichever it may be, prolonged rest is the most essential treatment for concussion as the brain starts to recover with time. |
Skull Fracture – When the skull is not capable of withstanding the pressure from the blow, it might cause a fracture that can cause damage to the brain as well. | While skull fractures might need surgery, the hospital will often ask you to get admitted so they can pay close attention to your symptoms and assess the medication required. |
At what point can you stop worrying about the hit on your temple?
It’s normal to feel paranoid after hitting your temple hard against the corner of a table.
Since brain injuries are intricate and can be hard to notice and associate with the symptoms you’re experiencing, it’s difficult to assume whether you feel they are mild or severe.
So, what exactly can you do to clarify your doubts? After a head injury, you can confirm any internal bleeding in your head by getting a CT scan done.
A CT scan can easily show any hemorrhages that might’ve occurred, and from that, your doctor will decide whether surgery is needed.
However, when it comes to concussions and mild brain injuries, CT scans are ineffective as brain injuries are microscopic and therefore not visible in such scans.
Yet you might continue to experience symptoms involved with concussions. You may experience sleeping issues, drowsiness, irritation, headaches, fatigue, sensitivity to light, and cognitive issues.
You need to realize that most symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries tend to recover by themselves with time, and rest plays an essential role in this recovery.
So, the best you can do is make sure you take a break from work for a few weeks to recover while following other home remedies such as staying hydrated and eating foods with more protein and lots of antioxidants.
Conclusion
The temple being a weak spot to us all when compared with other areas of the head such as foreheads, needs attention when it comes to head injuries and accidents.
After you bang your temple against an edge of a table or hard surface, if you’re experiencing mild symptoms, you can always turn to countless home remedies like taking painkillers and using icepacks over swollen areas.
Having light food and drinking in moderation will also be helpful. You can also take extra precautions by getting a scan done and arranging for someone to stay with you for the rest of the day if you need some assistance.
It’s important not to be alone for a few days, and of course, the key ingredient for recovery will be rest.