A concussion is a brain injury. It can happen to anyone. When someone hits their head, it’s confusing to know what to do. Should you go to urgent care or the emergency room? Here’s what you need to know.
Should You Go to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room After a Concussion?
You might feel worried after a bump to the head. That’s normal. Knowing where to go can make all the difference. Go to the emergency room if the person:
- Passes out, even for a few seconds
- Has a seizure or shakes uncontrollably
- Can’t wake up or won’t stop sleeping
- Throws up over and over
- Is confused and can’t speak or walk right
- Has one pupil (black part of the eye) bigger than the other
- Has blood or clear fluid coming from ears or nose
If you see these signs, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. These could mean serious brain injury. Don’t wait!
Go to urgent care if:
- The person did NOT pass out
- They feel dizzy or have a mild headache
- They are a little confused but get better fast
- You just want a doctor to check, but it’s not an emergency
Urgent care is for non-life-threatening symptoms. Emergency rooms are for life-threatening problems.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. It happens when the brain hits the inside of the skull. The most common causes are falls, sports, car accidents, or hitting the head.
About 3.8 million concussions happen each year in sports in the United States alone. Many cases don’t get reported. Kids, teens, and older adults get concussions most often.
Most people recover fast. But some need more care.
Why Is It Important to Know Where to Go?
Making the right choice saves lives. Here’s a story: Sarah, age 12, fell during soccer and hit her head. She got up, seemed fine, but then got very sleepy and vomited. Her parents took her to an emergency room. Doctors found small bleeding in her brain. She needed fast care.
In another case, Marcus, 14, bumped his head skateboarding. He felt dizzy and had a headache, but stayed awake. His mom took him to urgent care. The doctor checked him, told him to rest, and Marcus got better in a few days.
The right care at the right place helps you heal. Wrong choices can keep you hurt longer, or even make things worse.
Concussions Urgent vs Emergency Care: How to Decide
If you’re wondering about concussions urgent vs emergency care, it’s important to know the main warning signs that require a visit to the emergency room versus urgent care. The following section breaks down the danger signals in detail:
Signs That Mean Emergency Care Is Needed
- Passing out (losing consciousness): Even for a brief moment is a red flag.
- Seizures: Shaking, twitching, or stiffening that you can’t stop.
- Persistent vomiting: Throwing up more than once after the injury.
- Slurred speech or trouble walking: Can’t talk or walk right.
- Confusion that won’t go away: Can’t remember people, places, or what happened.
- Different-sized pupils: The black circles in the eyes are uneven.
- Fluid from nose or ears: Clear or bloody liquid coming out.
- Unusual drowsiness: Can’t wake up, or sleeps all the time.
If you see these, get emergency help fast. These symptoms were seen in people with bleeding in the brain or swelling, which can be life-threatening.
When Is Urgent Care Okay for a Concussion?
Go to urgent care if the symptoms are milder:
- Headache that is not very bad
- Feeling dizzy or a bit confused, but gets better
- No loss of consciousness at all
- You just want a doctor to check (peace of mind)
Most urgent care clinics can check for concussion. They can do basic exams. They can give advice about when it is safe to go back to school or sports.
Research shows 80-90% of mild concussions heal within 7 to 10 days with rest and care. Urgent care helps if you need basic help, but no emergency testing like a CT scan.
What to Expect at the Doctor
When you go to urgent care or the emergency room, doctors will:
- Ask questions about how the injury happened
- Check for signs like confusion, memory, balance problems
- Shine a light in your eyes and look for pupil changes
- Make sure you can talk and move normally
Sometimes, especially at emergency rooms, you might get a CT scan or MRI. This helps find bleeding or swelling in the brain.
Most of the time, rest is the best medicine. The doctor will give you rules for recovery.
What If You’re Not Sure Where to Go?
If you worry, it’s always better to be safe. If you can’t decide, start with urgent care. They will check the person. If things look serious, they will send you to the emergency room.
You can also call your family doctor or a nurse hotline. They can help you decide. In the U.S., you can call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) for advice, even for head injuries.
Concussions in Sports: What Parents Must Know
Sports cause up to 20% of all concussions in kids and teens. Football, hockey, soccer, and cheerleading are higher-risk.
Most youth sports teams now follow a “return to play” rule. If an athlete shows any signs of concussion, they must stop playing, see a doctor, and slowly return to sports.
Ignoring signs of concussion can mean a longer recovery. Or, in rare cases, something called Second Impact Syndrome. This is when two head injuries happen close together. It can be deadly.
Famous NFL player, Troy Aikman, had multiple concussions. He still talks about memory and sleep problems today.
How Many Kids Get Concussions?
The CDC says that children age 0-4 have the most emergency visits for concussions. Teen boys (ages 15-19) are next. In the US, children under 15 have about 500,000 concussion-related ER visits each year.
Many are from falls, but car accidents and sports are big reasons too.
How to Prevent Concussions
You can’t stop every accident, but you can lower the risk:
- Wear helmets for biking, skating, and sports
- Buckle up in the car
- Use safety gates on stairs for toddlers
- Teach safe ways to play in sports
- Make homes fall-proof for older adults
How Soon Will I Feel Better?
Most people feel better in a week or two. Rest helps. Limit screen time and skip hard thinking for a few days. Don’t go back to sports until a doctor says it’s okay.
Some people take longer. See a doctor if headaches or trouble thinking last more than 2 weeks.
Conclusion
Concussions can be scary, but quick choices save lives. Remember:
- Go to the emergency room if you see serious danger signs.
- Use urgent care for mild symptoms and peace of mind.
- When in doubt, get checked. It’s always better to be safe.
Head injuries are common; smart steps help everyone heal and stay safe!