Head injuries should always be taken seriously. Whether you’ve bumped, bruised, scraped or cut your head, you could be at risk for bleeding, infection or traumatic brain injury and concussion—serious medical events. The Urgency Room throughout the Twin Cities is ready to help you with your head injuries quickly at our locations in Vadnais Heights, Eagan and Woodbury.

Head injuries most commonly originate from motor vehicle accidents, physical altercations, sports-related accidents and, above all, falls. These incidents can cut your skin, impact your skull and even shake you enough to cause a concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs can range from mild to severe and should be addressed immediately. When minutes matter most after a head injury occurs, get to your nearest Urgency Room to be seen in minutes instead of hours.

Common Types of Head Injuries

Head injuries range from wounds to your scalp, fractures to your skull or face, swelling, bruising and more. They happen frequently and without medical attention, death or permanent disability could be the tragic result. An estimated 1.7 million people sustain a TBI annually with 75 percent of those being concussions. The cause of traumatic brain injuries are broken down by the following causes:

• 10% : Assault
• 16.5% : Head struck by/against
• 21% : Unknown/Other
• 17.3%: Motor Vehicle / Traffic
• 35.2% : Falls

The truth is, everyone is at risk for a traumatic brain injury or wound—like any accident, they happen when you least expect them. However, the majority of TBIs happen due to falls by children aged 0 to 4 years or adults older than 75 years old. This could be due to instability and the heightened likelihood of falling. Whatever the cause, getting assessed and treated by a physician is crucial to a healthy and speedy recovery as undiagnosed or untreated head injuries could prolong recovery greatly.

What to Do if You Cut Your Head or Scalp

Cutting your head or scalp can be a scary and overwhelming event due to how badly these cuts may bleed. Because of the incredible number of blood vessels situated around the face and scalp, heavy bleeding could occur even from minor cuts or scrapes. If this happens, though, just remember to remain calm. Locate the injury and assess the severity, then focus on stopping the bleeding.

Seek immediate medical attention if you’ve experienced a serious head injury. If you feel lightheaded, dizzy, drifting in and out of consciousness, weak or not alert, you may be losing too much blood. However, if you have mild bleeding or feel conscious and alert, continue with trying to treat your wound before heading to your nearest Urgency Room or medical facility.

When trying to assess your wound, first see if there is any debris or visible objects present if the wound is a result of an object coming into contact with your head. Once you remove as much dirt or debris as you can clearly see, apply firm and even pressure over the wound using a clean cloth or piece of gauze. Direct pressure to the cut on your head should slow the bleeding and allow the wound to clot. If blood starts soaking through your first cloth or piece of gauze, don’t remove it as you risk removing any clotting blood that had formed. Instead, simply place another piece of gauze or cloth over it while continuing to apply pressure. Continue doing this for 15 minutes. If the bleeding hasn’t slowed or stopped, seek medical attention as further care may be needed, i.e., stitches, staples, etc.

If bleeding has subsided or not, consider going to your physician as soon as you can anyways. The impact from getting struck on the scalp or face could have been enough to cause a mild concussion.

What to Do when You Experience a Traumatic Brain Injury

When you get a concussion, you may be experiencing an altered mental state, confusion, and disruption to normal functioning of the brain. Multiple concussions can have prolonged or lifelong detrimental effects. When you get shaken, get hit, or experience a hard fall, you could have a concussion. Symptoms for a concussion, from mild to severe, could include:

• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Headache
• Memory loss
• Loss of coordination and/or balance
• Sleepiness
• Slurred speech
• Nausea and vomiting
• Ringing in the ears
• Sensitivity to light and noise

After experiencing a hard hit or fall, or an event where your heads whips back and forth or side to side, getting to the Urgency Room could be the quickest way for your concussion to be assessed, diagnosed and treated. Our comprehensive state-of-the-art standalone facilities are fully equipped with the machines necessary to see the extent of your injury. Our X-ray machines and CT scanners can see if you’ve also endured a fracture during your accident. Our facilities are owned and operated by the Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA) and staffed with highly experienced physicians, medical technicians and nurses who can help you in fraction of the time when compared with waiting times at other medical facilities.

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms after enduring a fall, car accident, sports injury or the typical bumps and bruises that happen from time to time, don’t wait. Don’t risk harming your brain for the long run; at The Urgency Room, you will get the help you need.

The Urgency Room Can Help when Your Head Hurts

Each Urgency Room in Eagan, Vadnais Heights and Woodbury is conveniently open from 8am to 9pm, 365 days per year—including holidays. So whether you bump your head during your fall pickup football game or a rogue icicle falls while you’re under it, we’re here for you. Instead of spending hours waiting to be seen by an ER doctor, you can schedule an appointment now with same day options available. You won’t be disappointed by how little time you’ll be spending in our waiting rooms. And once you leave our care, you still aren’t alone. Our extensive library of after-care and at-home care videos can provide you with the answers and tips you need for caring for your injury. When it comes to your head, don’t take chances. Whether you have a cut, scrape, fracture or concussion, get the head injury help you need at The Urgency Room.