CPD – How to Support Those with Serve Brain Injuries

Severe brain injuries can change how a person moves, thinks, and feels, so it is essential to learn about them. For this reason, people need to know what causes these injuries. They should understand how the body reacts and give the best care. The brain controls vital functions, so even a minor injury can significantly impact someone’s life. Moreover, families and caregivers play a significant role in the affected patient’s daily lives. This way, it helps them feel safe and comfortable

Thus, raising awareness about brain injuries is very important. After all, it helps create a kinder, more caring, and more helpful world for those affected. A severe brain injury can happen in many ways. For example, it may come from an accident, a stroke, or illness. As a result, the brain can be seriously damaged.

The effects can be short-term or last a lifetime. Sometimes, patients recover a little, but others need help forever. Hence, caregivers, nurses, and doctors must assess how bad the injury is. Then, they can make special care plans to fit each person’s needs, helping the injured person recover.

What is severe brain injury?

A severe brain injury is a head injury that causes someone to stay unconscious for a long time, usually over 6 hours. This can cause problems with thinking, moving, and acting, and the person may need a lot of help to get better. It can happen from car crashes, falls, or violent impacts. Unlike mild or moderate injuries, this condition can cause lasting problems. These often need ongoing medical care and therapy. It can also make it hard for the person to do daily tasks alone.

A severe brain injury can damage brain tissue, leading to internal bleeding, swelling, or nerve damage. These issues make recovery more challenging. Doctors often use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to determine the severity of the injury. A lower score on the GCS means the injury is more serious. It also means the person needs immediate medical help.

Besides physical and thinking problems, a severe brain injury can also affect emotions. The person may experience changes in their personality. They might also have mood swings or trouble interacting with others. Recovery usually requires help from many professionals. These include neurologists, physical therapists, and psychologists. They work together to help the person gain skills and adjust to new ways of living. Family members and caregivers are also important. They give both emotional and physical support during the recovery.

Different types of brain injury

Severe brain traumas come in different types. These types depend on what caused them and how bad they are. The main types are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), acquired brain injuries (ABIs), and other brain problems. Some other issues include hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and injuries from military service. Each type of injury is explained below. 

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when something hits the head hard or there is a sudden force that affects the brain. This can damage the brain’s tissue. A TBI can hurt different brain parts and might change how it works. Also, TBI is one of the types of acquired brain injury. Therefore, it sometimes causes bleeding or swelling, worsening the injury if not treated quickly. Depending on how serious the injury is, TBIs can be mild or severe, which could affect someone temporarily or permanently.

Acquired brain injuries (ABIs)

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is brain damage that happens after birth, and several factors can cause it. Moreover, this condition has two types such as traumatic injury and non-traumatic injury. Non-traumatic ABIs happen due to medical problems like strokes, brain tumours, or lack of oxygen. On the other hand, traumatic ABIs happen due to accidents, falls, or other events. ABIs are different from conditions you are born with. They develop over time, leading to several risk factors. Doctors must help manage symptoms and improve a patient’s state in severe cases.

Other types

Several brain conditions can significantly affect how it works and the body moves. For example, tumours grow inside the brain and can harm how it functions. Cerebral palsy affects motor skills because of problems during early brain development. Hydrocephalus causes extra fluid to build up in the brain, putting pressure on it. Strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked, causing damage. Many veterans suffer from brain injuries caused by explosions during military service. Each of these conditions needs different treatments to handle their specific problems.

Programme Overview

Helping people with impaired brain injuries requires knowledge and hands-on skills. Therefore, the speaker in the course discusses different brain injuries, how they affect people, and how to help them. You will learn to perform medical checks, help with recovery exercises, and communicate better to improve care. Healthcare professionals can help people heal and live better lives by understanding the struggles of severe brain injuries.

In the lessons, you will look at real-life examples, recovery activities, and ways to support mental health. By the end, you will have what it takes to help people at different stages of recovery. This training will teach you how to make a real difference for people with severe brain injuries.

Learning Plan

This course explains how to provide aid to patients with severe brain injuries. It will focus on care, recovery, and rehabilitation. You will also explore the different stages of recovery. With this, you will know how to support those seriously affected. The following materials will help you understand these topics better through the course. It includes:

1. Learn about different kinds of brain injuries and how they affect people.
2. Find out the signs of a brain injury and determine its seriousness.
3. Use simple ways to take care of someone while they recover.
4. Understand what doctors and therapists do to help people heal.
5. Find ways to talk and connect better with people who have brain injuries.

Entry Criteria

This course is for anyone who wants to learn about brain trauma care. It is open to everyone, no matter their educational background. You don’t need any medical experience to join. It’s perfect for caregivers, healthcare workers, and families of people with severe injuries affecting the brain. The College of Contract Management offers this programme to help widen knowledge and deepen understanding. It also provides practical skills for better support and rehabilitation.

The symptoms of brain injury

Head damage can cause different symptoms. These symptoms depend on how bad the injury is. There are, in fact, three main stages for this condition. They are mild, moderate, and severe brain injuries. Therefore, it’s important to recognise symptoms early. In this way, early recognition allows doctors to provide the proper treatment promptly. To help you understand, here are the symptoms of brain injury:

Mild Brain Injury and Concussion

• Headaches and feeling dizzy
• Feeling confused or lost
• Feeling sick or throwing up
• Forgetting things for a short time
• Being extra sensitive to light and noise

Moderate Brain Injury

• Headaches that don’t go away and keep getting worse
• Hard time talking, like speaking slowly or with unclear words
• Feeling sick a lot and not being able to eat
• Losing balance or feeling wobbly
• Having trouble focusing or understanding things

Severe Brain Injury

• Being unconscious or in a coma for a long time
• Significant changes in personality and feeling very confused
• Not being able to move parts of the body
• Having many seizures that are hard to control
• Showing intense outbursts or not being able to control emotions

Ways to recover from brain injury with CCM

Recovering from a brain injury can be difficult, especially if the injury is severe. However, the College of Contract Management offers special courses to help professionals acquire competencies in this field and for patients to be aware of their situation. Their courses teach easy ways to improve memory, focus, and problem-solving, which can help learners feel more confident and capable again. CCM also provides clear lessons with expert guidance to help people recover.

Moreover, CCM's courses are flexible so that people can take them at any stage of recovery. Some might want to return to work, while others want to improve their brain skills. With experienced teachers and recognised qualifications, people can become more independent and have a better quality of life. For those with serious brain injuries and professionals catering to such patients, taking this course is an essential step for recovery.

This course is designed to help people recover and develop essential skills. It gives participants the freedom to learn at their own pace. Additionally, experts created the course to improve focus, memory, and adaptability. These skills are beneficial for those overcoming a severe injury. Moreover, the schedule will be shared soon. If you have questions, feel free to contact our team. They will gladly assist you with any details you need.