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Year 6

Head injuries

I can describe the signs of a major head injury and explain where to get support.

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New
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Year 6

Head injuries

I can describe the signs of a major head injury and explain where to get support.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Our brain is extremely important in controlling our bodily functions.
  2. A head injury could lead to severe damage to the brain.
  3. We can protect our brain by wearing a helmet during some sports and activities.
  4. If we experience a head injury, we should tell an adult straight away.
  5. There are symptoms to watch out for after a head injury that could indicate that the person needs medical help.

Keywords

  • Brain - the organ inside our head that controls all of our body's functions

  • Injury - damage to your body

  • Symptom - something that someone experiences if they have an illness or injury

Common misconception

Head injuries are not dangerous.

Some head injuries do not require medical help, but others are serious and could cause severe damage to the brain. Unfortunately, major head injuries can result in death, especially if this person does not get medical help.


To help you plan your year 6 rshe (pshe) lesson on: Head injuries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Explain to pupils the 'bumped head' procedure at your setting and emphasise the importance of telling an adult if they have hurt their head.
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Equipment

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the definition.
Correct Answer:faint,to lose consciousness for a short amount of time
tick

to lose consciousness for a short amount of time

Correct Answer:airway,a tube inside our body that carries oxygen to our lungs
tick

a tube inside our body that carries oxygen to our lungs

Correct Answer:wound,an injury to our body that has broken the skin
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an injury to our body that has broken the skin

Correct Answer:recovery position,a safe way to position an unconscious person to keep their airway open
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a safe way to position an unconscious person to keep their airway open

Q2.
A triangular is a piece of fabric that can tie our arm in a less painful position when it is hurt.
Correct Answer: sling
Q3.
Which can be ways to stop or reduce bleeding?
reduce pressure
Correct answer: add pressure
use an antiseptic wipe
Correct answer: apply a bandage or plaster
Q4.
What could someone do if they think that they are going to faint?
stand up and stretch their legs
Correct answer: lie down with their legs raised
lie down with their arms raised
Correct answer: put their head between their knees
Q5.
Which step comes first when putting someone into the recovery position?
check their breathing
roll them onto their side
stretch their arm out at a right angle to their body
Correct answer: check their airway
Q6.
Put the steps to make a sling for someone into the correct order.
1 - Slide the triangular bandage underneath their injured arm.
2 - Bring the top end of the bandage behind their neck.
3 - Bring the lower part of the bandage up to meet the top.
4 - Tie the two ends into a reef knot.
5 - Adjust the sling so that it supports their arm, including their little finger.
6 - Twist the bandage by the elbow and tuck it into the sling.
7 - Check the circulation in their fingers every 10 minutes.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to their correct definition.
Correct Answer:brain,the organ inside our head that controls all of our body's functions
tick

the organ inside our head that controls all of our body's functions

Correct Answer:injury,damage to your body
tick

damage to your body

Correct Answer:symptom,something that someone experiences if they have an illness or injury
tick

something that someone experiences if they have an illness or injury

Q2.
How can we protect our brain during some sports and activities?
wear glasses
wear a hat
Correct answer: wear a helmet
put our hair up
Q3.
Which of these statements are true?
Head injuries are not dangerous.
Correct answer: Our brain is extremely important in controlling our body's functions.
Correct answer: A head injury could lead to severe damage to the brain.
Our brain only controls our ability to think and speak.
Q4.
If we experience a head injury, we should tell an straight away.
Correct Answer: adult, trusted adult
Q5.
Which are symptoms that suggest that someone with a head injury needs medical help, but we may not need to call 999?
Correct answer: feeling more irritable
experiencing vision or hearing changes
Correct answer: vomiting
Correct answer: headache
struggling to talk
Q6.
We should call 999 if, after a head injury, someone has difficulty staying awake or if they are bleeding from their ...
Correct Answer: ears