URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) — Gordon Ramsay is known for being hard to rattle. But a bicycle accident in 2024 left the celebrity chef shaken and grateful to be alive, and he used the moment to urge others to wear a helmet and ride within their limits.

It’s advice that Kurt Bloomstrand, MD, an emergency medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, echoes from experience.

“We know that people who get in a bike accident have better outcomes if they’re wearing a helmet,” Dr. Bloomstrand said. “People that are not have a higher risk of head injuries and traumatic brain injuries.”

Dr. Bloomstrand says cyclists who come into the emergency department most commonly arrive with arm injuries from bracing a fall, but head injuries are the greater concern. Traumatic brain injuries can result in lifelong complications or death, and when a cyclist comes in, his team moves quickly.

“When we see people in the emergency department who have suffered from a bicycle accident, we’re going to do a rapid trauma assessment,” Dr. Bloomstrand explains. “We’re going to pay special attention to the head. We’re going to make sure there are no signs of skull fracture or neurological abnormality. Depending on the severity of the injury, we may do a CAT scan [also called a CT scan] to make sure there’s no internal injury like bleeding on the brain. Those internal injuries are life-threatening emergencies that need to be addressed quickly.”

Before your next ride, Dr. Bloomstrand recommends checking a few things. Wear a helmet regardless of age or trip length. Dress in long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes to protect against road rash. Stay alert and avoid riding while tired or under the influence. Keep your bike in good condition and sized correctly — your feet should touch the ground when seated. Use lights, reflectors, and bright clothing at night. Follow traffic laws, use hand signals, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

And if an accident happens, call 911 immediately.

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare at osfhealthcare.org.