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Head Injury Care in Beaumont: When a Bump Needs the ER

Most bumps to the head are minor. Some are not, and the warning signs can show up hours after the fall or hit. If you or your child hit your head and now has a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, or unusual sleepiness, get checked. Eastex Emergency Room in Beaumont is open 24/7 for adults and children.

FallsSports hitsConcussion symptomsBlood thinners

Danger signs after a head injury

These can mean bleeding or swelling inside the skull. Do not wait to see if they pass.

Passed out, even briefly, or cannot remember the injury
Headache that gets worse and does not go away
Vomiting more than once
Confusion, slurred speech or acting strangely
Very sleepy or hard to wake up
Weakness, numbness or poor coordination on one side
One pupil larger than the other
Seizure, or clear fluid or blood from the nose or ears
Taking a blood thinner and hit your head, even if you feel fine
A baby or toddler who will not stop crying or will not nurse or eat

Call 911 for a seizure, loss of consciousness, someone who cannot be woken, or a possible neck injury. Keep the person still and do not move their neck.

Symptoms

Concussion symptoms to watch for

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt. Symptoms can be mild and can start right away or over the next day or two.

Headache or pressure in the head
Dizziness or balance problems
Nausea
Feeling foggy or slowed down
Trouble concentrating or remembering
Blurry or double vision
Bothered by light or noise
Sleeping more or less than usual
Irritability or mood changes
In young children: crankiness, changes in play or sleep

Possible Causes

Common ways head injuries happen

The cause matters because it helps the physician judge the force involved and what else might be hurt.

Falls

The most common cause, especially in young children and older adults. A fall from a height or down stairs carries more risk.

Vehicle crashes

Car, motorcycle and bike crashes can injure the head and neck together.

Sports and play

Contact sports, playgrounds and trampolines are frequent causes of concussion in kids and teens.

Why feeling fine is not always reassuring: bleeding inside the skull can develop slowly, especially in older adults and people who take blood thinners. Symptoms can also be mild at first. That is why the danger signs above matter for the first day or two, and why someone should stay with the injured person and check on them.

Your Evaluation

What happens when you come in for a head injury

The physician looks for signs of bleeding, skull fracture and neck injury, and checks how the brain and nerves are working.

Triage. Vital signs and a quick check of alertness, and protecting the neck if needed.
History. How the injury happened, whether the person passed out, vomiting, and any blood thinners or medical conditions.
Neurological exam. Pupils, strength, sensation, coordination, speech and memory.
Deciding on a CT scan. A head CT is used when the history or exam suggests a higher risk. Many low-risk patients, especially children, do not need one.
Watching over time. Some patients are observed for a period before discharge.
Instructions. You go home with a list of warning signs, advice on rest, screens, school, work and sports, and when to follow up.

Testing available on site

CT scan

Cross-sectional imaging when the exam calls for it.

X-ray

Imaging for bones, chest and some foreign bodies.

Lab testing

Blood and urine tests run on site.

Wound care

Cleaning, closing and dressing cuts and other wounds.

The tests above are the diagnostic services Eastex ER lists on its own service pages. Not every patient needs every test. The emergency physician decides what to order based on your history and exam, and a normal result does not rule out every cause. Always follow your discharge instructions and the follow-up plan you are given.

When hospital care is needed

Eastex ER is a freestanding emergency room without inpatient beds or neurosurgery. If imaging shows bleeding, a skull fracture that needs a specialist, or the person needs to be watched in a hospital, the team arranges transfer to a hospital that can provide that care.

Serious injuries from a major crash, a fall from height, or a penetrating injury are best taken by ambulance directly to a trauma center. Call 911.
Concussion recovery is usually guided by your primary care doctor or a concussion specialist after the ER visit.

Watching someone at home after a head injury

If the person has been checked and sent home, or the bump was minor and none of the danger signs are present, a responsible adult should stay with them for the first day. Check that they are acting like themselves, talking clearly and walking normally. If a clinician has advised waking them during the night, follow that advice.

Rest from hard physical activity and contact sports until cleared.
Limit screens and demanding mental work for a short period if they make symptoms worse, then return gradually.
Avoid alcohol while recovering.
Ask a clinician or pharmacist which pain reliever is appropriate, especially if the person takes a blood thinner.

Older adults and falls

Falls are the leading cause of head injury in older adults. Bleeding inside the skull can develop slowly and may first show as new confusion, sleepiness, headache or unsteadiness hours or days later. Families should take any change seriously, and anyone on a blood thinner should be checked after a head injury.

Children and teens

Young children cannot always describe their symptoms. Watch for unusual crankiness, changes in eating or sleeping, losing new skills, or being unusually tired. Teens returning to school may need a short break from tests or a lighter load while they recover.

Planning Your Visit

Before you come in

If you take a blood thinner, bring its name and dose. For a child, bring their vaccine record if it is handy and any medicine they take.

Find us

5550 Eastex Fwy, Suite C, Beaumont, TX 77708. Open 24 hours, every day. Call 409-800-1100.

What to bring

Photo ID, insurance card and a list of your medicines and allergies, if you can grab them safely.

Insurance

See which plans we work with and what to expect as a freestanding emergency room.

Billing

How emergency visits are billed, and who to contact with questions about a bill.

FAQs

Head injury questions

Short answers to questions people ask before they come in.

Not sure what to do?

If symptoms are severe or getting worse, call 911. For questions about coming in, call Eastex ER any time.

409-800-1100

Should I let someone sleep after a head injury?

If the person is awake, talking normally and has none of the danger signs, sleep is usually fine. Someone should check on them and wake them if told to by a clinician. If they are hard to wake or confused, call 911.

Does everyone with a head injury need a CT scan?

No. Physicians use the history and exam to decide. CT is used when the risk of bleeding or fracture is high enough to justify the radiation dose, which is weighed especially carefully in children.

I take a blood thinner and bumped my head. Do I need to be seen?

Yes, people on blood thinners should be checked after a head injury, even a minor one, because the risk of bleeding inside the skull is higher.

When can my child go back to sports?

Not on the same day as the injury. Return to sport should be gradual and cleared by a health care provider once symptoms are gone.

How long do concussion symptoms last?

Most people feel better within days to a few weeks. Symptoms that get worse, or that last longer, should be checked by a doctor.

Keep Reading

Related guides

More from Eastex ER on deciding where to go and what to expect. Browse every guide in our health resources library.

GuideHead injury symptoms you should not ignore Emergency carePediatric emergency care DiagnosticsCT scan at Eastex ER

Hit your head and something feels wrong? Get checked now.

Eastex Emergency Room is open 24/7 at 5550 Eastex Fwy, Suite C, Beaumont, TX 77708. Walk in or call 409-800-1100. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Sources

Last updated: November 12, 2026

This page is general education and does not replace an exam by a clinician. If you think you are having a life-threatening emergency, call 911.