You should go to the ER if there are two black eyes resulting from a head injury, sudden vision changes that are persistent like seeing double or blurred vision, or if the child has difficulty moving their eyes. EYE INJURIESįor an eye injury, look for a nosebleed in association with a black eye or bleeding within the whites of the eye.

Those symptoms indicate there may increased pressure in the brain, swelling of the brain, or actual bleeding in the brain. Other concerns are a slowed or undetectable pulse, multiple vomiting episodes or any seizure-type activity. Other significant findings where you would want to go to the ER immediately is if a child has a soft spot on his head, called a fontanel, and it feels like it’s bulging. If a child is less than two years of age and sustains a fall more than three feet, or if a child is over two years of age and has sustained a fall more than five feet, a trip to the Emergency Room is in order. These symptoms are causes of significant concern and need immediate medical attention. Signs of a concussion that follow a head injury are significant and severe crankiness above and beyond what the child normally display, vomiting, slurred speech, exhibiting a difference in the way he/she walks.

Head injuries are extremely common with young children. These signs can help determine whether a child needs to seek emergency medical care. That’s why it’s important for parents and caregivers to be aware of the physical cues that accompany common pediatric injuries. Here’s a staggering statistic: 45 percent of playground injuries are severe – fractures, dislocations and concussions. But when that child is an infant or toddler, it’s often more difficult to ascertain what happened and where they are hurting as the child lacks verbal communication skills. When a child sustains an injury of any type, it’s difficult to see them experiencing pain or discomfort.

Baby hit head on crib board