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Rapid Treatment for Head Trauma in Southern California

When you or someone close to you experiences head trauma, you’ll need an expert doctor to evaluate symptoms and treat the injury. Our emergency services’ experts are skilled at recognizing and healing a mild or serious head injury in Southern California. From a child bumping his head to falls at work, the emergency departments in Long Beach, Northridge, Downtown LA, Glendale, and the Inland Empire cities San Beranrdino, Fontana, and Highland are equipped to care for all types of head injuries.

External injuries that affect the scalp and internal head injuries both require immediate attention. Before visiting our emergency departments, use InQuicker to select your estimated arrival time.

Evaluating Head Injury Symptoms at Dignity Health Southern California

Head injuries happen and can be a normal part of growing up. Sometimes, a head injury can be serious and life-threatening, so it's important to know the symptoms of serious head trauma.

Visit our emergency departments or call 911 if any of the following symptoms appear after a head injury:

  • Severe headache or stiff neck
  • Bleeding from the scalp
  • Blood or clear fluid coming from the nose, ear, or mouth
  • Difficulty breathing, speaking, or seeing
  • Extreme sleepiness
  • Brief or prolonged loss of consciousness
  • Dizziness
  • Seizures
  • Unequal pupils
  • Sudden vision problems, such as double vision or decreased vision
  • Weakness or inability to move a limb
  • Vomiting
  • Abnormal behavior

Symptoms of trauma to the skull or brain sometimes do not immediately appear. They can manifest later, long after the injury occurred. Even if the head appears fine, always seek prompt medical attention after accidents that affect the head.

First Aid for Concussion & Other Head Trauma

You can help treat an injured person or prevent the injury from worsening until medical help arrives. For severe head injuries, first dial 911 and then follow these tips:

  • Do not remove an object lodged in the wound or head
  • Do not clean or rinse a wound. Instead, apply a sterile bandage.
  • Never pick up a child
  • Do not remove a helmet
  • Never move an injured person unless absolutely necessary
  • Apply direct pressure to the wound unless you suspect a skull fracture

Emergencies happen. And when they do, the dependable staff at our emergency departments offers 24-hour care for minor or severe injuries.

A trained team of experts at Dignity Health are prepared to care for any type of head injury in Southern California.