Module 12MARCH· MARCH PAWS: HStill being built
Head Injuries
A head injury can come from a blast, a crash or a blow, and it is not always obvious. This module teaches what could cause one, what to look for, and which warning signs you must pass to the medic right away.
What to remember
- A head injury is trauma to the scalp, skull and/or brain, and it is the H in MARCH PAWS along with hypothermia.CLS M12 Slides, PDF p.5-6
- Suspect a head injury after a vehicle blast, collision or rollover, or after being within 50 meters of a blast.CLS M12 Slides, PDF p.6
- A direct blow to the head, or a witnessed loss of consciousness, also counts, as does exposure to more than one blast.CLS M12 Slides, PDF p.6
- The IED checklist helps you spot a head injury: Injury, Evaluation (HEADS) and Distance from the blast.CLS M12 Notes, PDF p.3
- HEADS asks about Headache or vomiting, Ear ringing, Amnesia or lost consciousness, Double vision or dizziness, and Something feeling wrong.CLS M12 Notes, PDF p.3
- TBI is likely if there is ANY one of: worsening consciousness, double vision, agitation or combativeness, repeat vomiting, seizures, weak or tingling limbs, or a severe or worsening headache.CLS M12 Slides, PDF p.8
- Those signs mean a MACE 2 evaluation by medical personnel; report them as soon as the medic arrives, because earlier evaluation works best.CLS M12 Notes, PDF p.3-4
Check yourself
Questions on this module, each with the reason and the slide it came from.
Practice Module 12Official course material
On Deployed Medicine, the Defense Health Agency’s training site. Some items ask you to sign in.
Course objectives: T13: E72-74
This program includes clinical facts and medication doses drawn from official guidelines for test preparation only. Nothing on this site is medical advice or clinical guidance, and none of it is a substitute for clinical judgment. For any real-world care, follow current official protocols and your medical direction.