Any workplace injury is one that requires immediate medical attention. Even if it’s minor, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Of course, serious injuries require even more attention. For example, a severe traumatic brain injury has the ability to alter your life in many ways.
Here are some of the symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury, all of which typically set in within a few hours of suffering a head injury:
— Loss of consciousness (this is usually immediate)
— Nausea and/or vomiting
— Persistent headache that worsens over time
— Seizures
— Inability to wake up
— Numbness or weakness in the toes and fingers
— Loss of coordination
— Slurred speech
— Confusion
— Unusual behavior
— Agitation and/or aggression
— Coma
As noted above, most of these symptoms will set in shortly after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. However, there are times when symptoms do not present for a day or longer. For this reason, if you suffer a blow to the head, it’s important to receive medical treatment. Even if you don’t have symptoms at first, you never know what the immediate future could bring.
There are many mental and physical symptoms associated with a severe traumatic brain injury. If left untreated, this type of injury can lead to death.
In the event that you or a loved one suffers a severe traumatic brain injury at work, do these three things:
— Receive immediate medical treatment
— Report the injury to your employer
— Learn more about your legal rights, such as the ability to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits
Source: Mayo Clinic, “Traumatic brain injury,” accessed May 22, 2017