Is hitting the head after a fall from a bed dangerous for a child?
Applies to age: 0–60 months
In short
Most head injuries are not serious, but medical help is important with any symptom. Seizures, being knocked out and not waking up, or a bruise, swelling or large cut on the head of a child under a year old need immediate medical help.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Most head injuries are not serious, but it is important to seek medical help with any symptom.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most head injuries are not serious, but it's important to get medical help for any symptoms.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- Symptoms of a head injury lasting longer than 2 weeks are worth discussing with a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
symptoms of a head injury last more than 2 weeks
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- A head injury after which the child was knocked out and did not wake up needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has been knocked out and has not woken up
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Seizures after a head injury need immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a fit (seizure)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A head injury after which the child cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A fall from a height of more than 1 meter or more than 5 stairs, ending in a head injury, needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has fallen from a height of more than 1 metre or 5 stairs
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Clear fluid coming from the ears or nose after a head injury needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has clear fluid coming from their ears or nose
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A bruise, swelling or large cut on the head of a child under 1 year old needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a bruise, swelling or large cut on their head and they are under 1 year old
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- A change in behavior after a head injury, such as being more irritable, distracted or losing interest in their surroundings, needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their behaviour has changed, like being more irritable or distracted, or losing interest in things around them
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Loss of consciousness is a situation in which an ambulance is called, using 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) or 112 (the emergency number in Poland).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
utrata przytomności
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- Impaired consciousness is a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zaburzenia świadomości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- Seizures are a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
drgawki
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- A fall from a great height is a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
upadek z dużej wysokości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
- An extensive wound resulting from an injury is a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
rozległa rana, będąca efektem urazu
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [2]
See a doctor
All claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed:
- Vomiting after a head injury needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
are being sick (vomiting)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
- Dizziness after a head injury needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
feel dizzy
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-16 · license [1]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.