What To Do If A Hammer Falls On Your Head?

Regardless of which tool you use, injury is always a possibility. However, using a hammer can also lead to unexpected accidents, such as a sudden fall of the hammer on the head. When something like that happens, it gives a pretty bad experience.

So, what do you do at that moment? -Well, the answer depends on your injury level.

To protect our brains, we have a natural hardhat surrounding and covering our heads. Consequently, when the hammer or anything else hits our head from close range with low force, it never causes serious injury. Unless someone intentionally hits you with a hammer or a hammer falls from far above to cause significant harm, hammer blow occurs in less injurious cases. If anything happens, it will be a bump on the head and nothing else.

Through the article, we’ll learn what you should do when a hammer falls on your head.

What To Do When a Hammer Falls on Your Head?

Head injury caused by a hammer blow can be mild or deadly. Most victims are unaware of what to do if they undergo such an accident. It is imperative to act immediately, so the victim’s condition does not worsen. So, let’s know in detail what to do.

1. Learn to recognize the head injury

First and foremost, determine the extent of the injury when the hammer strikes the head and provide basic first aid. This will make it easier to lessen the intensity of the pain and prevent the injury from becoming severe. If the injury results in a bump on the head, sit the patient down, comfort them, and let them rest. Wrap a tea towel around ice or frozen globules and apply a cold compress to their head.

But, if you strike your head hard enough with the hammer, you may suffer a contusion, an injury to the brain. 

2. Call 911 for immediate medical attention

In the event of a head injury, anyone suffering the following symptoms should contact the 911 local emergency number for first aid or emergency medical treatment as soon as possible:

• Having mild headache
• Having dizziness
• Visual issues or losses
• Feeling sick and getting unconscious for a short time or long period
• Short-term memory loss from the time of injury
• Vomiting
• Hearing loss or double vision
• Bleeding from the nose, ears, and eyes

If any of the above symptoms are present in the patient, they should be hospitalized immediately.

3. How do you explain the incident to 911

When you call 911, give an accurate description of where you are or where the emergency is occurring so that the emergency contact center can process and respond to your calls quickly and effectively.

Follow the instructions when explaining an incident to 911:

• Be calm and speak clearly when you explain the situation
• Answer the questions patiently and completely 
• Explain exactly what the condition of the injured area is and how it occurred
• State the condition of the victim
• Know clearly what to do until emergency medical help arrives

4. Determine the type of injury

A hammer blow to the head can cause both major and minor injuries. If the hammer blow comes from a close range at low speed, it will cause minor injury. As a result, a bump will appear on the head, and the area will turn black and feel severe pain. But if the opposite happens, then it is not a good thing.

In particular, hammer blows can cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries when massive blunt pain is directed at the head region. For example, a hammer falling on your head can cause the following injuries.

• Concussion (the brain gets shaken) is the most common traumatic brain injury
• Scalp wounds (for example, scalp cuts or ruptures)
• Skull fractures (injure the brain tissue)

But, if you strike your head hard enough with the hammer, you may suffer a contusion, an injury to the brain. This is because when you get hit in the head, your brain gets a quick shake around in your skull. In this case, the victim should ask for immediate medical attention.

5. Take some first aid at home if the head just gets a bump

A minor head injury is just a bump on the head, and it gradually fades over time. Then, the affected area becomes black and painful. The bump may not cause fear in some cases, but it can still raise concern.

Usually, blood vessels under the skin surface appear as a form of bump, a temporary indication of head trauma. You can use ice cubes or cold water to massage the area, which will speed up healing. In that case, a bump on the head with a hammer is not a matter of concern.

6. Try to stop bleeding until any emergency aid arrive

Head injuries often result in profuse bleeding because many blood vessels are near the scalp’s surface. However, home treatments can sometimes stop the bleeding when the injury is not severe.

First, lay the person down if the bleeding is alarming. Then, press firmly on the wound with gauze, a clean cloth, or the cleanest material without attempting to clean the wound. If there is an object in the wound that you cannot remove, apply pressure around the object, not directly on it.

Apply steady pressure for a full 15 minutes according to the clock. Do not remove the pressure only once, even if the cloth is bloody. Apply another without removing the first.

If the bleeding does not slow or stop, continue applying direct pressure until any emergency aid arrives. Do your best to keep the wounded area clean and prevent further injury.

What Not to Do When You Get Wounded by a Hammer Blow?

After getting injured by a hard hammer blow, victims often become traumatized. Do not shake them to normalize at that time. It harms their nerves and makes the condition worse. If there is bleeding from the wound, do not wash it with water or try to stop the bleeding. Do not attempt to self-medicate after an injury without a doctor’s advice or medical counsel. 

Never take any medicine without the doctor’s advice. Finally, do not go back to work until you have fully recovered. Only go if your doctor allows you.

FAQs

Conclusion

It is essential to know what to do when a head injury occurs, whether from a hammer blow or anything else. A traumatic brain injury may cause symptoms of one or more, so it needs monitoring for symptoms and seeking medical attention if you suspect you have anyone.

It may be difficult to predict or avoid any head injury, but if you can take some steps in this situation, you can reduce the risk of more severe injury.

Learn more:

• When Should A Brass Hammer Be Used?
• The Surprising Reason Why Drywall Hammers Have Hatchets
• 5 Easy Steps On Using A Brick Hammer Efficiently!