My baby hit his head. Do I take to ER?

[Excerpt from Simply Baby: An invaluable quick reference to infants] Many babies fall, hit their head, and do not require medical attention. But, if any of the following symptoms are present within 15 minutes, call 911:

• Severe head or facial bleeding
• Seizures
• Bleeding from the nose or ears
• Change in level of consciousness for more than a few seconds
• Vomiting  
• Bruising below eyes or behind ears
• Loss of balance
• Weakness or an inability to use an arm or leg
• Unequal pupil size
• Slurred speech, or difference in babbling

If Baby does show any of the signs above, while waiting for medical attention do the following:

1. Keep Baby as still as possible in a dark room with shoulders/head elevated. Avoid moving Baby, especially the neck area, if at all possible.
2. Put pressure on any bleeding to slow, but avoid if the skull may be fractured.
3. If Baby shows no signs of movement, coughing, or breathing, start CPR.

If none of the above symptoms are seen within 15 minutes, there should be no cause for real concern.