First Aid: Brusing/Hitting

TW: brief mention of alcohol and drugs

Assessing the Damage

Non-head injuries

The most common injures from hitting is bruises, sprains, strains, and tears. More serious injures like fractures, dislocation, and internal bleeding can also occur. Using some drugs/medications or drinking alcohol increases your risk of severe bleeding, including internal bleeding.

Call for an ambulance immediately if...

  • Any symptoms from the list for head injures
  • An open fracture (bone has broken through the skin) or head, back, rib, or collar bone fracture
  • A misshapen limb
  • Symptoms of internal bleeding
  • You suspect a fracture or broken bone
  • You have symptoms of shock
  • Bleeding that doesn't stop after ~15 minutes or is heavy
  • A closed fracture (no bone visible), not to your face, head, back, ribs, or collar bone and the limb is not misshapen
  • Blood in your pee or poo or that you cough up
  • Bulging/swelling muscle
  • Severe muscle pain or severe pain when stretching
  • Muscle tightness
  • A body part that has gone grey/blueish/cold or has a faint or no pulse
  • You have a medical condition that means you need immediate emergency medical attention for your injury
  • You are unsure if you need immediate emergency medical attention
  • If you do not think you can take care of your injuries alone and cannot get yourself to A&E

Go to A&E immediately if...

  • Any symptoms from the list for head injures
  • The bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of applying even pressure
  • Vomiting
  • You have a medical condition that means you need emergency medical attention for your injury
  • You do not think you can take care of your injuries alone

Even if you do not fit any of the above criteria, you can still go to A&E for self-harm, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or other mental health emergencies. Self-harm and thoughts of hurting yourself or others is always considered a medical emergency. If you are unsure how serious an injury is, call your local A&E's nurse line (if in the UK call 111 or use 111 online).


Head injuries

Head injures can be very dangerous. If you self-harm by hitting/banging your head and are unable to change your self-harm to something safer or quit, its extremely important to be familiar with the symptoms of severe head injuries and to look out for them. Using some drugs/medications or drinking alcohol increases your risk of severe bleeding, including brain bleeds. Symptoms may develop days after the injury.

Call for an ambulance immediately if...

  • Any symptoms from the list for non-head injures
  • You suspect a fracture or broken bone
  • A dent in your head
  • You take a medication (like blood thinners) or have taken a drug (like alcohol) that effects bleeding
  • You have symptoms of shock
  • Bleeding or clear fluid leakage of fluid from ears or nose
  • Weakness or inability to move part of your body
  • Changes in vision or hearing
  • Different sized pupils (the black part of your eye)
  • A seizure
  • Problems with walking, balance, or communicating
  • Difficulty staying awake or keeping your eyes open
  • You have a medical condition that means you need immediate emergency medical attention for your injury
  • You are unsure if you need immediate emergency medical attention
  • If you do not think you can take care of your injuries alone and cannot get yourself to A&E

Go to A&E immediately if...

  • Any symptoms from the list for non-head injures
  • Bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes of applying even pressure
  • Confusion/restlessness/agitation/memory issues
  • Severe headache
  • Vomiting
  • You have a medical condition that means you need emergency medical attention for your injury
  • You do not think you can take care of your injuries alone

Do not drive yourself to A&E, get someone else to drive you or call an ambulance.
Even if you do not fit any of the above criteria, you can still go to A&E for self-harm, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or other mental health emergencies. Self-harm and thoughts of hurting yourself or others is always considered a medical emergency. If you are unsure how serious an injury is, call your local A&E's nurse line (if in the UK call 111 or use 111 online).


Treating

Non-head injures

bruises, sprains, strains, and tears are all treated the same. For three days or until swelling and pain goes away...

  • Protect; if a join is injured, a brace can be used to protect it
  • Rest; rest the injured area to allow it to heal, avoid putting weight on the injury. This also means avoiding harming in the same area.
  • Ice; use a cold compress on the injured area for about 20 minutes every ~3 hours to reduce swelling.
  • Compression; use an elastic bandage to on any swelling, make sure you don't wrap to tightly and cut or circulation.
  • Elevate; elevate the injured area to promote blood flow.

Over the counter pain medications like acetaminophen/Tylenol can help with pain and so can muscle soreness creams like Deep Heat and Icy Hot. Gentle stretching can help with mild muscle tightness
If pain worsens or doesn't get better seek medical attention.


Head injures

Head injures can be treated similarly to injures to the rest of the body. Use a cold compress periodically, rest as much as you can, and take acetaminophen/Paracetamol/Tylenol or another over the counter pain killer if needed. Rest as much as you can and avoid anything that could worsen the injury like contact sports or more head banging for as long as you can.
Drugs and alcohol can worsen head injuries and slow healing, avoid them as best you can. Driving or using other machinery can be dangerous after a head injury.
If symptoms worsen or persist for 2 weeks seek medical attention.