Most people will hit their heads and get concussed at some time in their lives. It can happen in vehicle crashes, on the sports field or in a fall. Traditionally, the advice was to make sure anyone suspected of having a concussion stayed awake. People thought that if they slept, they might slip from the concussion into a much more serious coma.
Research has shown this is untrue. What’s more, sleeping can actually promote recovery from a concussion, as can rest over the following days. So, it might require missing work or school for a bit. So, is it OK to just go home and sleep after what seems like a mild concussion? That is the key issue.
You are not qualified to make that call for yourself or someone else
What might seem like just a mild concussion could be a much more serious form of traumatic brain injury where sleep could allow the patient to drift into a coma, deteriorate further and even die.
Head injuries are complex. The only way to be certain of the risk is to get a medical examination. The sooner you get a doctor to check you out, the better. If it turns out just to be a mild concussion, as you suspected, then you have not lost anything. If it turns out to be something more serious, the doctors can take appropriate action.
Seeing a doctor will also get you a medical report, which you will need if you wish to claim compensation – which you usually can if it was due to someone else’s negligence.