Chapter 11: Head Injuries
Overview:
- Describes potentially serious head injuries
- Describes concussion and its grades
- Provides guidance on the management of head injuries
Description:
Most parents and carers are understandably worried if a child suffers an injury to the head. However, they can be reassured that minor injuries to the head are common in childhood, and that the overwhelming majority are not serious. The problem is to know how to recognise the more serious head injuries from among the ‘everyday’ events that have no significant consequences. This chapter differentiates between minor and major head injuries in children.
Topics:
- Introduction to head injuries
- Potentially serious head injuries
- Concussion
- Management
- Final word
Speaker / Author :
Gerry Silk
Gerry is a registered paediatric nurse who holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education. Gerry trained at The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London, and now has more than 30 years of experience in the care of sick children in various settings, including major city hospitals and outback Australia. Gerry spent 15 years working in the Emergency Department of the Royal Children’s Hospital (Melbourne, Australia), including ten years as the clinical nurse educator. She now works part-time as a paediatric nurse educator at the Angliss Hospital (Melbourne).
Gerry also runs her own business in paediatric health education and consultancy. In this capacity she presents seminars and educational sessions for parent groups, nurses, and other health professionals. While at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Gerry had a particular interest in the care of suddenly bereaved families. She developed hospital guidelines for the care of families affected by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and these guidelines are now used around Australia. Gerry continues to have strong links with the ‘SIDS & Kids’ organisation, and conducts creative scrapbooking workshops for bereaved parents.
Gerry also instigated the use of calico dolls with children who are receiving health care. The dolls are now used throughout Australia and in many countries overseas — with the support of the Kiwanis organisation, which coordinates the making of the dolls. As a result of this initiative, Gerry was awarded the Victorian Community Service award in 1993. Gerry is especially interested in the cultural aspects of health care, and her postgraduate studies (which included study in China) reflected this abiding interest. Gerry regularly works in developing countries for a couple of weeks each year, which also allows her to indulge in her love of travel.
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