-Are very drowsy or can't be woken up
-Can't recognise people or places
-Pass out or have a blackout
-Vomit more than 3 times
-Behave unusually or seem confused
-Have seizures
-Have weak arms or legs, or are unsteady on your feet
-Slurred speech
-The person looking after you needs to get you straight to the hospital or call the emergency number if they notice any of the above symptoms.
Don't hesitate - remember, it is better to be safe.
Sleeping: It is important not to go to sleep in the first 4 hours. After that, a normal night's sleep is needed, at the normal time. If sleep seems strange in any way, the person looking after you needs to know to rouse you until you can say a word or two, then let you go back to sleep.
If there is any worry about the severity of the blow, it is safest on the first night to gently rouse the sleeper every 2 hours during the night, and ask them to answer to simple questions. If a person cannot be woken normally, then medical help must be sought.
Drinking: Do not drink alcohol or take sleeping pills for at least 48 hours. This also goes for the members of the Hardcore Drinking Team.
Driving: Do not drive for at least 24 hours. You can drive again when you stop feeling giddy and you feel well enough; if you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.
Pain relief: It is safe to take paracetamol for the headache. Don't take medication containing aspirin or dispirin for the next 4 days. This type of of medicine can make you bleed more.
Returning to sport: You must stand down from sport for at least 3 weeks AND you should not return to sport or training until you are symptom free AND have a medical clearance.
Zonder Helm Kop Kapot!
Be careful out there.
In our sport of BMX, and other similar disciplines, a concussion is often regarded by the riders as a minor injury. Not by the medics, they take it serious because it is serious. Repeated concussions have a cumulative effect - so that a person who sustains a number of concussions can end up with a more serious injury. Repeated concussions can also lead to Second Impact Syndrome. Acute brain swelling and bleeding occurs when a second concussion is sustained before the first one has healed properly. This can be difficult to treat and can be fatal. In layman's terms, unless they can open the skull to relieve the swelling within thirty minutes or thereabouts you are probably dead. Problems that could arise over the first 24 hours once you leave the track are:
-Have a headache that gets worse
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.