Head injuries are common in childhood—from playground falls to sports injuries to everyday accidents. Here’s what you need to know about recognizing and managing concussions in your children.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. While most aren’t life-threatening, they require proper care. Important: You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion—most people don’t.

Recognizing the Signs

Symptoms can appear immediately or develop over hours or days. Watch for:

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Confusion or feeling “foggy”
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability or mood changes
• Changes in sleep patterns

In young children: Excessive crying, changes in eating or sleeping, loss of interest in activities, or appearing dazed.

When to Seek Immediate Emergency Care

Go to the ER right away for:

• Loss of consciousness over one minute
• Severe or worsening headache
• Repeated vomiting
• Seizures
• Weakness or difficulty walking
• Slurred speech
• Unequal pupils
• Increasing confusion or cannot be awakened

When to Visit Urgent Care

Visit us if your child has a head injury with any concussion symptoms, or if you’re uncertain about severity. Our team will perform a thorough assessment of your child, provide a diagnosis, and create a recovery plan. When it comes to head injuries in Manassas children, it’s always better to be cautious.

What to Do After Your Child’s Head Injury

First 24-48 hours:

• Monitor your child for new or worsening symptoms
• Allow rest and sleep (check on them every 2-3 hours)
• Limit screen time significantly
• Keep them from physical activities
• Use acetaminophen for pain if needed (avoid ibuprofen initially)
• No activities that could result in another head injury

Recovery Guidelines

Most children recover within 1-2 weeks with proper rest. The key is gradual return to activities.

Initial rest: No sports, limited school tasks, reduced screen time, and quiet activities only.

Step-by-step return:

1. Light activities at home
2. Return to school (with modifications if needed)
3. Light physical activity
4. Non-contact practice or exercise
5. Full activities with medical clearance

Critical rule: If your child’s symptoms return at any step, go back to resting. Never allow return to sports or high-risk activities the same day as the injury.

Age-Specific Considerations

Young children: Developing brains are especially vulnerable to injury. Young children may not be able to articulate their symptoms, making careful observation by parents critical.

School-age children and teens: Recovery takes longer in young people, and returning to activities too soon increases risk of complications. Your child may need temporary accommodations at school during recovery.

Young athletes: Complete symptom resolution and medical clearance are required before any return to contact sports. Returning too early risks serious complications from a second injury.

The Bottom Line

Concussions in children and teens should always be taken seriously. Don’t hesitate to seek evaluation after your child experiences a head injury—early recognition and proper recovery are crucial for their developing brains.

Night Watch Manassas is here for your family—walk-ins welcome for pediatric concussion evaluations.

Flu season has arrived in Manassas, but with a few simple strategies, you can protect your family. Here’s what you need to know.

Get Your Flu Vaccine

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu. Everyone 6 months and older should get their annual flu shot, ideally in early fall before flu activity peaks. The vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, so don’t wait.

Note: Children getting vaccinated for the first time may need two doses spaced four weeks apart.

Practice Good Hand Hygiene

Handwashing remains one of your best defenses against flu viruses. Encourage your kids to wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—singing a favorite song helps pass the time and makes it more enjoyable.

Key times to wash: before meals, after using the bathroom, after playing outside, and after coughing or sneezing.

Teach Proper Cough and Sneeze Etiquette

Show your children how to cough or sneeze into their elbow rather than their hands. This simple habit significantly reduces the spread of germs. Practice at home so it becomes automatic—many kids find it fun to “catch” their sneeze like a vampire in a cape.

Keep Sick Children Home

We know it’s challenging, but keeping feverish children home from school protects other children and gives your child time to recover. Kids should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school or daycare.

Support Healthy Habits

A strong immune system makes a difference. Focus on the basics: adequate sleep, nutritious meals, regular physical activity, and plenty of water. These fundamentals help your child’s body fight off infections naturally.

Clean High-Touch Surfaces

During flu season, regularly wipe down frequently touched items like doorknobs, light switches, tablets, and toys. You don’t need to deep-clean constantly—just focus on these hotspots where germs tend to linger.

When to Contact Us

Most children recover from the flu at home with rest and fluids. However, call our office if your child has:

• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• High fever over 104°F or fever lasting more than 3-4 days
• Signs of dehydration (no tears when crying, significantly decreased urination)
• Symptoms that improve then suddenly worsen
• Any concerns that something isn’t quite right

Trust your instincts—remember, you know your child best.

Stay Prepared, Not Worried

Flu season is manageable with the right approach. Get vaccinated, maintain good hygiene, keep sick kids home to rest, and support healthy habits. That’s really the foundation of flu prevention.

If your family does get sick despite your best efforts, remember that rest, comfort, and time usually do the trick. We’re here at Night Watch Manassas if you need us.

At Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care in Manassas, VA, we understand that mental health is a key component of a child’s overall well-being. That’s why we are proud to offer proactive mental health services using Enrichly’s self-esteem assessments and coaching tools.

Far too many children struggle silently with anxiety, low self-worth, and social pressures. Our approach is focused on prevention rather than reaction. By using Enrichly, we can detect early signs of emotional difficulty and equip children with the skills they need to thrive.

What Happens During a Visit?

Our mental health visits in Manassas include:

· A child-friendly self-esteem screening via Enrichly

· A discussion with our pediatric providers

· Customized recommendations for home support, coaching, or further evaluation

We aim to normalize mental health care and ensure that children in Manassas receive the early support they need. Whether your child is excelling or struggling, our services are tailored to foster emotional resilience and prevent future issues.

Book a mental health visit today at our Manassas location and give your child the tools for a confident future.

Keep your kids safe this summer in Manassas! Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care shares top tips to prevent dehydration, sunburn & heat exhaustion.

Summer fun in Manassas means trips to Signal Hill Park and local splash pads — but Virginia’s heat can lead to dehydration or heat exhaustion fast. Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care wants local families to know how to stay safe and when to get help.

Tips:

√ Stay hydrated for outdoor fun at Baldwin Park and local pools

√ Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours

√ Use hats & sunglasses for extra sun protection

√ Check for ticks after hikes at Manassas National Battlefield

√ Know signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, or headache

When to Visit Us: Come see us if your child shows signs of dehydration or severe sunburn.

We offer IV hydration for kids who need help bouncing back.

Our Manassas, VA location is excited to announce the launch of new health services for kids, teens, and young adults!

In addition to our full pediatric urgent care offerings, we now provide:

• STD Testing & Counseling – Teens ages 13+ can access confidential, compassionate STD testing and counseling with results typically available in just a few days.

• IV Therapy for Dehydration & Recovery – Whether from a viral illness or intense sports practice, our IV hydration therapy helps patients bounce back safely and quickly.

• Emotional Wellness with Enrichly – Preventative care now includes self-esteem coaching and wellness check-ins, giving children and teens the tools to manage stress and grow emotionally.

• Concussion Management – Head injury? We’ve got you covered. Our team now offers thorough concussion assessments to support a safe and informed recovery.

We’re proud to offer more care, closer to home in Manassas, VA. Stop by today—no appointment necessary!