Writing Injuries in Fanfics: A Guide

CONCUSSIONS/HEAD INJURIES

So, since this is one of the most common injuries I see in fics, I thought we'd start here. So, a couple of things to remember:

Concussions and head injuries can range from mild to extremely severe, obviously depending on how they got injured and you can, (for the most part) tell if it's mild, severe, or kind of in between depending on the symptoms they're showing. (NOTE: I said for the most part for a reason, everyone can present differently, I've learned in my short time in medicine that very few people present in a 'textbook' way).

WAYS TO GET A CONCUSSION:

-Striking your head on anything hard

-Car accident (you could hit your head on just about anything, or something in the car can strike your head as well. Remember children, WEAR A SEATBELT)

-Motorcycle accidents (wear a f***ing helmet)

-Explosions (I'll elaborate on the different ways a blast can harm you in a later chapter)

-Getting into a fight (being struck in the head with a blunt object like a crowbar, a foot, a fist, etc.)

This is not a complete list, but these are the most common ways I've seen someone get a concussion.

SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION/HEAD INJURY

-Nausea/Vomiting

-Dizziness

-Decreased level of consciousness 

              *This does not always mean a direct loss of consciousness. They can be confused, tired, irritable, not always responding directly to your words, etc. (I will go over the Glascow Coma Scale in another chapter as well).

-Headaches

-Fatigue

-Visual problems (blurry and/or doubled vision, 'kaleidoscope' vision)

-Memory Loss (you can either forget the incident and the events leading up to it, which is called Retrograde Amnesia, or you lose the ability to gain new memories, which is called Anterograde Amnesia.

Remember, for your fics and for real life: Concussions are legit injuries that require medical attention. If your character loss consciousness due to the head injury, they need to see a doctor, ASAP. They can't just 'sleep it off', cause some severe damage could be happening, and no one would know, (unless your one of your characters has XRay vision or some shit, idk). Also, another thing to remember, DON'T fall asleep after you get a concussion until you've seen a doctor. 

SCALP INJURIES/LACERATIONS TO THE HEAD AND THE FACE/JAW INJURIES

The head is a very vascular place, which is a fancy way of saying there's a shit ton of blood vessels, so if you cut yourself on your scalp or your face or wherever, you're going to bleed a lot. I'm sure either you or someone you know has injured/broken their nose at some point, and it was probably gushing blood. That's normal, but you still need to stop the bleeding, as just about all bleeding is bad when happening in large quantities. 

If you are hit in the nose, even if it doesn't hurt, your eyes are going to water, and it's going to get a little hard to see for a second. It's just an automatic response from your body. (Little self-defense tip for ya). If you are hit on the temple, that will put you on your ASS. Doesn't matter how tough you are. If your character is human, and someone round house kicks them in the head, they're gonna drop. I read a fic recently about Bane from The Dark Knight Rises and how he didn't even flinch when he was punched right in the temple. Just, no. The temple is where multiple parts of your skull meet, and it's a much weaker spot than the rest of your head.

The teeth are much weaker than people realize, and it's actually pretty easy to knock a couple out of someone's mouth. 

Feel free to comment asking questions, and since this list isn't all inclusive, feel free to add your own! Hope you guys are well, and I'll see you next time!