Every hit to a child's head is important to take care of. Whether a concussion or a more severe brain injury, be evaluated by a healthcare provider (HCP). This can be done by a visit to an Emergency Department (ED), Urgent care, Primary Care Physician (PCP) and/or at least a phone call to the child’s PCP for advice.

Immediate action needs to be taken for:

• Loss of consciousness
• Seizure activity
• Persistent vomiting
• Severe, unrelenting or increasing headache, even after rest
• Inability to rouse out of sleep into consciousness
• Neck pain or tenderness
• Double vision
• Weakness or tingling/burning in more than 1 arm or in the legs
• Deteriorating conscious state
• Increasingly restless, agitated or combative
• Visible deformity of the skull

If unsure whether to go to an urgent care or emergency department after a hit to the head, call your PCP or pediatrician’s office to discuss symptoms over the phone. If your child does not have a primary care provider, consider calling a local urgent care clinic or a nurse advice line, which many hospitals and insurance providers offer. Having a healthcare provider guide the plan remotely allows for an immediate pivot to emergency care when/if needed.

Seek immediate medical attention if any of the red flags listed above develop.