The first 24 hours following head injury are the most crucial. The injured should remain with a reliable companion during this period and extreme care must be taken:

Do not drive or operate machinery.

Do not drink alcohol.

Do not take sleeping pills or tranquillizers.

Red flags:

If any of the symptoms below occurs after a head injury, immediately visit the nearest Emergency Department (ED):

• Drowsiness or altered consciousness
• Confusion or unusual behavioral change
• Convulsions or fits
• Severe or persistent headache or neck pain
• Vomiting more than twice
• Slurred speech
• Problems in understanding or recognizing people or faces
• Weakness or numbness in one or both arms or legs
• Loss of balance or problems in walking
• Uneven pupils or problems in eyesight
• Urinary continence/loss of bladder control
• Ear/Nose bleeding or drainage