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Did You Know?

The signs of mild brain injury—concussion—can be subtle and may not occur for days or even weeks after the injury.

Following a brain injury, you should be alert for symptoms that may not show up for days or even weeks after the injury.

A child should return to the emergency department or see his/her physician immediately if:

• You cannot wake the child

• The child seems increasingly sleepy

• The child cannot stop vomiting (throwing up)

• The child has a seizure(s) or a sudden onset of daydreaming or a fixed stare

• The child has mood swings, very irritated, sad, or agitated

• The child says he/she cannot see clearly or has blurred or double vision

• The child is not speaking clearly, seems confused, or doesn’t know who you are

• The child has blood or clear fluid from the nose or ears

• The child has increased headaches or neck stiffness

• The child’s pupils (black center of the eye) are different sizes

The child is stumbling or has other problems with walking

An adult should return to the emergency department or see his/her physician immediately if they experience any of the following:

• Trouble answering simple questions (What day is it? What happened to you?)

• Trouble waking up completely

• A headache that is getting worse even after medication

• Changes in behavior or personality and not knowing family and friends

• Still vomiting (throwing-up) 8 hours after the injury. Or vomiting that starts 1 to 2 hours after the injury

• Pupils (black center of the eye) that are different sizes

• Stumbling or other problems with walking

• Double vision (seeing two of everything), blurred vision, or field cuts

• Slurred speech, or repeating questions

• Seizures (convulsions), fixed stares, or “daydreaming”

• Blood or clear fluid from the nose or ears

Products

• Traumatic Brain Injury Facts: Emergency Medical Services (Fact Sheet)

• Hechos sobre el Trauma Cerebral: Servicios de Emergencia Medica (Spanish: Traumatic Brain Injury Facts: Emergency Medical Services) (Fact Sheet)

Resources

• DOLETA's Hurricane Disability Program Navigator Fact Sheet [PDF 65KB]
• DOLETA's Hurricane Recovery Job Connection Fact Sheet
  [PDF 95KB]
• DOLETA's Hurricane Recovery Services Fact Sheet [PDF 75KB]
• DOLETA's Hurricane Recovery Coach Fact Sheet [PDF 85KB]
• DOLETA's Hurricane Job Corps Fact Sheet [PDF 68KB]
• DOLETA's Reintegration Counselors Fact Sheet [PDF 60KB]



• The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's Help for Victims Fact Sheet [PDF 56KB]

• The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's Disaster Assistance and FEMA Tips Fact Sheet [PDF 33KB]

• The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's Housing Information After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

• U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid: Emergency Information