What to Do If You Hit Your Head, And When to Seek Treatment

If you experience any of these "red flag" symptoms after a head injury, you should seek help immediately, experts warn.

After performing a stand-up comedy act in Orlando, Florida, on January 9, comedian and actor Bob Saget was found unresponsive in his hotel room, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a statement from his family to The Hollywood Reporter, the 65-year-old "accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep." It was later revealed in an autopsy report that Saget suffered a "significant blow to the head," and had multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding, The New York Times reports.

Life-threatening brain injuries like Saget's aren't uncommon: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 61,000 people died from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in 2019. And the majority of these TBIs occur from falls, Angela K. Lumba-Brown, MD, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine and neurosurgery at the Stanford School of Medicine, tells Health.

While TBIs can result in severe medical complications, including brain bleeding, swelling, and death, knowing when to seek emergency medical care for yourself or another person can be life-saving. Here's what you need to know about traumatic brain injuries, and what to do if you hit your head (especially if you're alone).