{"id":2556,"date":"2025-10-15T02:37:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T02:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/?p=2556"},"modified":"2026-10-15T10:29:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T10:29:17","slug":"how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#Why_Pupils_Matter_After_a_Head_Injury\" >Why Pupils Matter After a Head Injury?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#How_to_Check_Someoneaposs_Pupils_Safely\" >How to Check Someone&apos;s Pupils Safely<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#What_Unequal_Pupils_Actually_Means\" >What Unequal Pupils Actually Means<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#The_Full_List_of_CDC_Concussion_Danger_Signs\" >The Full List of CDC Concussion Danger Signs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#General_Concussion_Signs_vs_Danger_Signs\" >General Concussion Signs vs. Danger Signs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#What_to_Do_While_Waiting_for_Help\" >What to Do While Waiting for Help<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/#Know_the_Signs_Then_Get_the_Training_to_Back_It_Up\" >Know the Signs, Then Get the Training to Back It Up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">A fall off a bike, a hard hit during a pickup game, a bump against a low cabinet door. When something like this happens to someone we care about, most of us do the same thing first. We look them in the eye and check their pupils, as if that one glance could tell us everything we need to know.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">It can&apos;t, not on its own. Pupil checks matter, and we want to show you how to do them correctly, but a pupil check is one piece of a much larger picture. We&apos;ll walk through the safe way to check someone&apos;s pupils after a bump to the head, what a size difference actually means, and the complete list of danger signs the CDC says should send you straight to the emergency room, no matter what the pupils look like.<\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"style-snapshot\">\n<div class=\"style-section\">\n<h3 class=\"style-section-title\">Key Takeaway<\/h3>\n<div class=\"style-section-content style-section-list\">\n<ul>\n<li>Unequal pupils after a head injury can be a medical emergency. While some people naturally have different-sized pupils, a newly unequal pupil after a blow to the head is a CDC danger sign that requires calling 911 immediately. Knowing the difference between routine concussion symptoms and emergency warning signs can help you respond quickly and get the right medical care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Pupils_Matter_After_a_Head_Injury\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Why Pupils Matter After a Head Injury?<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">The muscles that open and close our pupils are controlled by a set of nerves that run close to the brain stem. Under normal conditions, both pupils shrink and widen together, matching each other in size and reacting the same way to light.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">After a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, pressure or bleeding inside the skull can press on those nerves. When that happens, one pupil may stop responding normally while the other still works the way it should. That is why a new pupil size difference after a head injury is treated so seriously. According to&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/heads-up\/signs-symptoms\/index.html\" class=\"broken_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><span style=\"color:#1155cc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">CDC&apos;s HEADS UP program<\/span><\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">, one pupil larger than the other is listed among the specific danger signs that call for immediate emergency care, because it can point to a dangerous collection of blood building up inside the skull.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">This is different from a typical concussion, which usually does not involve bleeding or swelling severe enough to affect the pupils. A pupil change points toward something more serious than a routine bump on the head, which is exactly why it gets treated as an emergency signal rather than a wait-and-monitor situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Check_Someoneaposs_Pupils_Safely\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">How to Check Someone&apos;s Pupils Safely<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">You don&apos;t need special training or equipment to check someone&apos;s pupils. Follow these simple steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Check the pupils in normal lighting.<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;Avoid dark rooms, as low light naturally causes pupils to widen and can make them appear uneven. Look at both pupils to see if they are similar in size and shape.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Use a small light source.<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;Shine a phone flashlight or penlight briefly into one eye, then the other.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Watch how each pupil responds.<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;A normal pupil should&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">constrict quickly<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;when exposed to light and return to its usual size once the light is removed. Compare how&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">both eyes react<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">, not just their size at rest.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Keep the examination brief.<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;A few seconds per eye is enough. There&apos;s no need to hold the light in place or repeat the test multiple times.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Know when to seek emergency care.<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;If&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">one pupil is noticeably larger than the other<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;or one pupil responds much more slowly to light, seek emergency medical attention immediately, especially after a head injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Important:<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;Checking someone&apos;s pupils does&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">not<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;replace a medical evaluation. If unequal pupils develop after a head injury or are accompanied by symptoms such as worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness, call emergency services right away.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Unequal_Pupils_Actually_Means\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">What Unequal Pupils Actually Means<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Not all cases of unequal pupils are caused by a head injury. The key is&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">whether the difference is new or has always been present<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div align=\"left\">\n<table style=\"border-width: medium; border-style: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<colgroup>\n<col width=\"260\">\n<col width=\"364\">\n        <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Normal (Usually Not an Emergency)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Concerning (Seek Medical Attention)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Some people naturally have pupils that differ slightly in size, a condition called&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">physiologic anisocoria<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">One pupil becomes larger than the other&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">The size difference is usually small and remains consistent over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">The difference is&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">new<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">, especially if the person&apos;s pupils were previously equal.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">There are no new symptoms related to the pupil difference.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">The unequal pupils are accompanied by symptoms such as confusion, worsening headache, repeated vomiting, drowsiness, seizures, or loss of consciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color:#434343;font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">If You&apos;re Not Sure, Treat It Seriously<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Most people don&apos;t know what someone else&apos;s pupils normally look like. If you notice&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">unequal pupils after a head injury<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and can&apos;t tell whether the difference is new, it&apos;s safest to&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">treat it as a potential emergency<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and seek immediate medical evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">The most important factor isn&apos;t simply whether the pupils are unequal; it&apos;s&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">when the difference appeared<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and whether it developed after the head injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Full_List_of_CDC_Concussion_Danger_Signs\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">The Full List of CDC Concussion Danger Signs<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Pupils are one entry on a much longer list. According to&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/traumatic-brain-injury\/signs-symptoms\/index.html\" class=\"broken_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><span style=\"color:#1155cc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">CDC&apos;s HEADS UP program<\/span><\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">, call 911 or go to the emergency department right away if someone shows any of these signs after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">One pupil larger than the other<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Drowsiness or inability to be awakened<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">A headache that gets worse and does not go away<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Repeated vomiting or nausea<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Slurred speech<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Convulsions or seizures<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Difficulty recognizing people or places<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Unusual behavior<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Loss of consciousness, even briefly<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Any one of these on its own is enough to call 911. You do not need to see several signs together before acting, and you do not need to confirm a pupil difference before treating another sign, like slurred speech or repeated vomiting, as serious. Each item on this list exists because it can independently point to a dangerous buildup of blood or swelling inside the skull.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">This list is not something to memorize under pressure. It is something to recognize quickly enough to act on, which is exactly the kind of pattern recognition that formal first aid training builds through repetition rather than a single read-through.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General_Concussion_Signs_vs_Danger_Signs\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">General Concussion Signs vs. Danger Signs<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Not every symptom after a head injury requires calling&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">911<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">, but some do. The table below explains the difference.<\/span><\/p>\n<div align=\"left\">\n<table style=\"border-width: medium; border-style: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<colgroup>\n<col width=\"322\">\n<col width=\"302\">\n        <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">General Concussion Signs<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Danger Signs (Call 911 Immediately)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Appears dazed or confused<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">One pupil is larger than the other<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Answers questions slowly or repeats questions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Loss of consciousness or inability to wake up<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Difficulty remembering events before or after the injury<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">A headache that gets worse over time<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Moves clumsily or has balance problems<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Repeated vomiting<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Headache, dizziness, or nausea<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Seizures or convulsions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Sensitivity to light or noise<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Increasing confusion, unusual behavior, or agitation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Feels mentally &quot;foggy&quot; or has trouble concentrating<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Changes in mood, sleep, or memory<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: solid #000000 0.5pt;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Any symptom that rapidly worsens after the injury<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">What Should You Do?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">General concussion signs<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;should be evaluated by a healthcare provider as soon as possible, ideally&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">the same day<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Danger signs<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;may indicate serious bleeding or swelling inside the skull and require&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">immediate emergency medical care<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">\n<p role=\"presentation\"><strong><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">If you&apos;re unsure whether a symptom is a danger sign, err on the side of caution and seek emergency medical attention.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_While_Waiting_for_Help\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">What to Do While Waiting for Help<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Once you have called 911 or decided to head to the emergency department, a few simple actions help keep the person safe until professional help takes over.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Keep them still and avoid moving their head or neck any more than necessary. A hit hard enough to cause a head injury can also affect the spine, so unnecessary movement is a real risk, not just a precaution. If repositioning becomes necessary and you are trained, our guide to the&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/recovery-position-in-cpr-when-to-use-it-how-to-do-it-and-what-comes-after\/\"><u><span style=\"color:#1155cc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">recovery position in CPR<\/span><\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;walks through when it is appropriate and how to do it without compromising the airway or the spine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Keep watching for any of the danger signs above, including ones that were not present a few minutes ago. Symptoms can appear or worsen quickly after a head injury, so this is not a one-time check. Do not leave the person alone, even if they insist they feel fine. A head and neck injury can also change how you respond if the person stops breathing, which is part of why it helps to know&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/5-situations-when-you-do-not-perform-cpr\/\"><u><span style=\"color:#1155cc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">when CPR should not be started<\/span><\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;and how a suspected spinal injury factors into that decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Know_the_Signs_Then_Get_the_Training_to_Back_It_Up\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Know the Signs, Then Get the Training to Back It Up<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Recognizing a pupil change or another danger sign is only half the job. Knowing exactly what to do in the seconds after, how to keep someone still, how to talk to a 911 dispatcher, when to start CPR and when to hold off, is what formal training builds. Our&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-first-aid-courses-classes\"><u><span style=\"color:#1155cc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">First Aid certification course<\/span><\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;covers head injury response alongside the full range of everyday emergencies, and it is built to be finished in about an hour, from home, for $19.95.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">If you are also responsible for kids, our&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/adult-child-infant-cpr-first-aid\"><u><span style=\"color:#1155cc;font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">Adult CPR + First Aid course<\/span><\/u><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;\">&nbsp;covers pediatric response too, so you are ready no matter who needs help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class='st_facebook_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='facebook'><\/span><span class='st_twitter_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='twitter'><\/span><span class='st_linkedin_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='linkedin'><\/span><span class='st_plusone_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='plusone'><\/span><span class='st_pinterest_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='pinterest'><\/span><span class='st_email_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='email'><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A fall off a bike, a hard hit during a pickup game, a bump against a low cabinet door. When something like this happens to someone we care about, most of us do the same thing first. We look them in the eye and check their pupils, as if that one glance could tell us [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<p><span class='st_facebook_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='facebook'><\/span><span class='st_twitter_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='twitter'><\/span><span class='st_linkedin_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='linkedin'><\/span><span class='st_plusone_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='plusone'><\/span><span class='st_pinterest_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='pinterest'><\/span><span class='st_email_hcount' st_title='How to Check Pupils for Concussion: Signs of Head Injury Not to Ignore' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/how-to-check-pupils-for-concussion-signs-of-head-injury-not-to-ignore\/' displayText='email'><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2556"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2556"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2559,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2556\/revisions\/2559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}