Florida Brain Injury Lawyers and Attorneys

Picture this. You are watching a child or a loved one playing a contact sport: maybe it’s rugby. The one that you care about is doing well, making some nice tackles and even scoring a few points. But then, in an instant, a sharp, quick blow to their head knocks them unconscious. What do you do? Sure, medical staff and sports trainers know everything to do. However, what if there isn’t a trained, medical staff available to take care of your loved one? Of course, the first thing that you should do is to call 911.

 

However, it is well documented through research and experience that the minutes directly following a Florida brain injury are crucial to preserving the health of the individual involved. According to most medical experts, the most important thing to do is to keep the person’s neck stable. This means that under no circumstances should you attempt to move the individual. Any movement to the victim’s neck can worsen any spinal damage. This will inevitably result in brain damage that may or may not be permanent.

 

If you or someone present at the scene is not trained and certified with first aid emergency resuscitation you should not attempt to revive the victim: even if he or she is not breathing. The results of incorrectly performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be fatal. Whether or not the victim’s eyes are open does not determine if they are conscious or not. Check them for simple responses: physical and verbal.

 

The best thing that you can do while you wait for the paramedics is to keep the victim warm and comfortable. If they are conscious, ask them what they need to ensure their comfort. If they are not conscious, assume that they could be warmer and provide blankets or even your own clothes in order to keep them warm. However, even if you don’t know how to correctly perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, there are a few steps that you can take while you wait for the professionals.

 

The three key steps to maintaining a victim is to remember the ABC’s. A is for airway. A clear airway is crucial for proper ventilation to take place. You can check to see if the airway is blocked by swiping the victim’s mouth with a finger. This will ensure that B, breathing, can take place. You can tell if a victim is breathing by movements in the chest and condensation from the mouth. Finally, once you are sure that the victim has a clear airway and is breathing, check for C: circulation. Circulation can be detected through a pulse in either the carotid artery (neck) or the radial artery (wrist).

 

As long as you remember to call the medics, not move the victim, and follow the ABC’s, you will be able to ensure that the victim has the best chance to suffer as little brain damage from his or her injury as possible. Remember these simple rules and the next time that a loved one gets injured in an event, they just might make it to the next one.

 

Please choose from one of the cities below to find a Florida brain injury lawyer in your area.