medical emergency

Head Injury After a Fall

When When someone under the influence of substances has fallen and hit their head — even if the person seems ‘okay again'.

review pending

Content is undergoing medical and legal review. Changes possible.

Emergency

Call 112. Calling for help is required by law (German Criminal Code § 323c). levelll cannot promise immunity from criminal or administrative consequences.

Immediate

1. Sit the person down, keep watching them. Apply pressure to wounds if there is bleeding.
2. Call 112 for: loss of consciousness (even briefly), vomiting, seizure, unequal pupils, persistent confusion, double vision, or cerebrospinal fluid (clear liquid) coming from the nose/ear.
3. If symptoms are unclear: get it checked by a doctor within the next few hours.

Don't do

Don't ‘let the person sleep' right after the impact — observe for at least 2 h to confirm consciousness stays clear.
No more substances after a head injury — they mask symptoms.
Don't move the neck area if a cervical spine injury is suspected (fall from height, against an edge).

The danger with head injuries under the influence of substances is the masking of symptoms: tiredness, confusion, speech problems can be substance-related — or signs of a subdural hematoma.

Delayed intracranial bleeding can become symptomatic hours to days after the trauma. The classic textbook rule “observe for 24 h, have someone wake you” is conservative, but works in practice.

With clear warning signs: 112, no hesitation. With unclear symptoms: emergency room (ER) the same day, no self-triage.

In clubs, a fall from stage/DJ-booth height or down stairs is the most common variant. Awareness teams are often the first point of contact — with a head injury, 112 is usually called directly.