Traveling with young children is often full of unforgettable memories—but it can also come with unexpected medical scares. One of the more alarming situations a parent may face is a head injury, especially a scalp laceration caused by a fall or accident. These types of injuries can be particularly stressful when you’re far from home and unsure about the quality or availability of local medical care.
To help parents handle these emergencies with confidence, The Suite Sojourn spoke with Dr. Jay Jagannathan, a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in cranial and spinal surgery. In addition to his medical expertise, Dr. Jagannathan brings the valuable perspective of a parent—having recently navigated this exact scenario when his son, Avi (age 11), suffered a scalp laceration while traveling in St. Kitts, in the Caribbean.
In this insightful interview, Dr. Jagannathan shares practical advice on what to do in the first few moments after a fall, what symptoms to watch for in the hours and days that follow, and which emergency items you should always keep in your travel kit. His tips are especially valuable for families planning travel to remote or international destinations.
Dr. Jagannathan recently took to social media and shared his son, Avi’s journey through a scalp laceration during a family vacation in St. Kitts, Caribbean. We took this opportunity to learn from Jay’s firsthand experience.
We’re grateful that Dr. Jagannathan took time from his demanding schedule to speak with us. Below, you’ll find the unedited, full interview, published as part of In Conversation With — a new series from The Suite Sojourn.
If you would like to consult with Dr. Jagannathan, he can be reached at: https://www.mi-neurosurgery.com/About-Us-Dr-Jagannathan
The Suite Sojourn: For new parents traveling with kids (especially those without a healthcare background), do you recommend packing a basic emergency kit? If so, beyond the usual items like band-aids and antiseptic wipes, what additional supplies do you consider most useful or often overlooked?
Dr. Jay: Yes, absolutely. It should include a stapler or a suture kit. When my son recently lacerated his head in St. Kitts, the hotel did not have a stapler or a suture kit. It would have saved a lot of trouble if we had access to this and could have taken care of it right at the hotel. When we did go to the hospital, they did not have a stapler either. Tip: always remember to get a tetanus shot in situations like this.
Another item to pack in the first aid kit: a nail clipper. My kids often get hangnails when they stub their toes, and it’s helpful to have nail clippers handy. We do not leave town without nail clippers, children’s and adult motrin, band aids, cough drops, chloraseptic throat spray.
The Suite Sojourn: You recently shared the story of your son Avi’s injury on social media, where he suffered a skin laceration after a fall. When a child suffers a fall and hits their head—especially with visible bleeding—what immediate steps should parents take before seeking medical help? What signs or symptoms (like vomiting, disorientation, or severe headache) should prompt an urgent ER visit, particularly if they’re traveling or abroad? How can parents know when it’s safe to monitor a child at home / hotel versus seeking emergency care?
Dr. Jay: Any head injury warrants concern, whether it is bleeding or not. At the very least, remove the source of trauma, rest, and close observation. With any excessive bleeding, medical attention should be sought. With any altered or loss of consciousness, imaging such as CT is usually indicated. And don’t forget the tetanus shot if exposed!
The Suite Sojourn: In the event of a head injury after a fall or laceration, do you recommend postponing travel—whether short-haul or long-haul Are there specific red flags that would make you advise against flying or continuing travel?
Dr. Jay: Would caution against flying with persistent post-concussive symptoms (headaches, nausea, vomiting, visual changes and others). Usually if the laceration is closed and bleeding is controlled and the loved one is at a neurologic baseline, it is safe to travel, but should be cleared by a doctor.
The Suite Sojourn: For families traveling to remote or international destinations (as many of our clients do), do you recommend any telemedicine platforms or services they can pre-register with in case of emergency?
Dr. Jay: For neurologic injuries, imaging is usually key so I recommend getting local treatment over telemedicine, even if it means traveling elsewhere.
The Suite Sojourn: From a neurosurgeon’s perspective, what kind of physical play should parents be mindful of when kids are in unfamiliar environments (e.g., hotel pools, marble floors, bunk beds, etc.)?
Dr. Jay: Hotel pools – how deep are they, how far before they get deep. Is there a lifeguard on duty? Does the hotel allow floats (it can be harder to see children caught beneath floats)? Do they provide life jackets?
Basketball hoops that are not cemented into the ground, whether they’re at the pool or even at play dates at friends’ houses – they can and will fall.
Water slides – how fast are they, how deep is the water you are deposited into at the end, can you see your child throughout their ride on the slide
Trampolines – I would never buy one for our yard. Even the ones with net around the outside are still dangerous as kids can get caught in the net.
The Suite Sojourn: Is there a minimum amount of time you recommend waiting before letting a child resume physical play (e.g., swimming, hiking, climbing) after a minor head bump or laceration, even if they seem fine?
Dr. Jay: With simple laceration usually 48-72 hours is sufficient. With concussive symptoms (loss of consciousness, headaches, nausea, vomiting), I would recommend waiting until symptoms are completely resolved and evaluated by a medical professional.
The Suite Sojourn: When dealing with a bleeding head wound, how can parents differentiate between a superficial injury and one that might require stitches—or even medical imaging?
Dr. Jay: Always assume it’s deeper until it is ruled out. Exploration by a doctor can show how deep the laceration goes. Any neurologic changes or uncontrolled bleeding warrants medical attention.
The Suite Sojourn: Can you walk us through a quick decision-making framework for parents?
Dr. Jay: Get an initial evaluation of current dangers, water, equipment, etc and get the child away from them. Assess things like airway, breathing and circulation if these are compromised. Do a superficial assessment to assess alertness, neurologic deficits (weakness, confusion), or persistent bleeding. If bleeding, apply pressure to control bleeding until medical attention arrives.
The Suite Sojourn: Should luxury travelers seek care at a local hospital in the country they’re in—or try to fly home for treatment?
Dr. Jay: Always seek local medical attention first especially for the symptoms described above. Even if medical care isn’t great, it should be enough to stabilize a patient and get them to a bigger center. Never fly home without assessment in cases of persistent bleeding, neurologic deficits, or post-concussive symptoms as air travel may make symptoms worse.
The Suite Sojourn: Are there any over-the-counter medications or wound-care supplies (like skin glue, steri-strips, numbing cream, etc.) that you recommend parents carry when traveling internationally with kids?
Dr. Jay: Usually some antiseptic ointment, alcohol swabs, steri strips and suture/staple kits are helpful if available readily.
Images are © Dr. Jay
Even the most carefully planned family vacations can take an unexpected turn. Travel insurance isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an essential layer of protection when facing unexpected medical emergencies abroad. Learn why it’s a smart investment in our guide: Why You Should Buy Travel Insurance For Your Next Getaway.
