Cerebral Compression

Cerebral Compression is where there is pressure on the brain caused by swelling or bleeding. This is a very serious condition and the Emergency Medical Services should be alerted. The swelling can be due to a build-up of blood within the skull or swelling of injured brain tissues. This may be caused by cerebral contusion, some sort of head injury, or a stroke, brain tumour or infection. Cerebral compression can occur immediately after a head injury. It can also take a few hours for it to develop.

Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Compression

• Change in personality.
• Deteriorating levels of consciousness.
• Noisy breathing which slows down.
• An intense headache.
• Vomiting.
• Drowsiness.
• Pulse is slow but strong.
• Unequal pupils.
• Weakness or paralysis down one side of the body.
• Tiredness and evidence of injury.

First Aid

If someone damages their head, there is a major chance that their spine has also become damaged as well. Therefore you should try and immobilise the spine but only if you are trained to do so! If there are any external bleeds, make sure to treat them first. You want to try and keep blood inside the body. Since you are dealing with head injuries, you will be dealing with one of the most important organs in the human body – the brain. So treat the patient with as much care as possible.

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