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First aid · Australia

Head injury

Stop the activity, make the scene safe and minimise movement, especially if a neck or spine injury is possible. Call 000 for loss or alteration of consciousness, seizure, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, weakness, slurred speech, fluid from the nose or ears, breathing problems or a serious mechanism. Any head injury needs health-professional assessment before return to activity.

Medical emergency? Call 000

What to do

  1. Stop activity; protect from further harm

    Stop the activity and make the scene safe. Minimise movement and protect the spine if a neck or back injury is possible, but do not delay moving someone out of danger.

    Take care. Do not move someone with a suspected neck or spine injury unless the scene is unsafe or movement is needed to manage the airway or follow 000 instructions.

  2. Check response and breathing

    Check responsiveness and breathing. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 000, start CPR and follow the call-taker.

  3. Call 000 for red flags

    Look for red flags including loss or alteration of consciousness, seizure, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, unusual behaviour, balance or vision changes, weakness, numbness or slurred speech. Call 000 when present.

    Take care. Do not use the absence of loss of consciousness to rule out a serious head injury.

  4. Minor bump: arrange assessment

    If the person is alert and there are no emergency red flags, use a cold pack wrapped in cloth for a minor bump, keep them out of play, driving or risky activity and arrange health-professional assessment.

    Take care. Do not return a person to sport, work, driving or risky activity after a significant head injury until a health professional has assessed them.

  5. Stay and watch for changes

    Stay with the person, watch for delayed or worsening symptoms and tell clinicians what happened, whether consciousness changed, how many times they vomited and when symptoms began.

    Take care. Do not ignore new, delayed or worsening symptoms, especially in a child or baby.

Know when to act

When to get help

  • Call 000 for loss or alteration of consciousness, seizure, repeated vomiting, worsening or severe headache, confusion, unusual behaviour, weakness, numbness, poor coordination, slurred speech, disturbed vision, fluid or bleeding from the nose or ears, breathing problems or a high-speed or high-fall injury.

Children and babies

  • Children may show behaviour, balance, feeding, sleep or concentration changes rather than describe symptoms. After a child head injury, watch closely for 24 to 48 hours; call 000 for a high-speed or high-fall injury, loss of consciousness, ongoing vomiting, seizure, trouble waking or severe symptoms that do not improve.

Keep checking

  • Keep checking response and breathing, and watch headache, vomiting, balance, vision, strength, speech and behaviour. A person may have a significant injury without passing out or remembering a gap.

What you may notice

  • A bump, bruise or cut may be the only early sign, but concussion can also occur without a visible wound.
  • Red flags include loss or alteration of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, unusual behaviour, seizure, weakness, disturbed vision or slurred speech.
  • Children may show behaviour, balance, feeding, sleep or concentration changes rather than describe symptoms clearly.

When help arrives

  • Stay with the person, monitor response and breathing, and keep them out of play or risky activity until assessed.
  • Tell clinicians the mechanism, time, loss of consciousness, vomiting count, symptoms and any change in behaviour.

Other useful answers

Does someone need to lose consciousness to have a serious head injury?

No. A significant injury can happen without loss of consciousness or amnesia. Watch for red flags and arrange health-professional assessment.

Can someone sleep after a head injury?

Follow the clinician’s advice. Difficulty waking, unusual drowsiness or worsening symptoms need urgent help and may require 000.

What should I watch for in a child?

Watch for new or worsening headache, vomiting, unusual behaviour, confusion, balance or feeding changes, drowsiness or difficulty waking during the next 24 to 48 hours, and seek urgent help for red flags.

Sources and last update

Content updated: August 2026.

These sources inform the guidance. This independent resource is not a substitute for a first aid course or medical assessment. An editorial update is not independent clinical review. Source organisations have not endorsed this site.

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