How to Help Someone Having a Seizure

Do you know what to do if someone is having a seizure? November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and although seizures aren’t a common occurrence seen every day, it’s important to understand how to render first aid to someone experiencing one. Here’s what you should know!

How to know if someone is having a seizure.

Seizures will appear differently based on the type of seizure a person is having.

Generalized:

Tonic-clonic seizures (or grand mal) can appear as an individual shouting, dropping to the ground, losing consciousness, and jerking or having muscle spasms.
Absence seizures (or petit mal seizure) can appear as someone being completely zoned out or continuously blinking fast.

Focal:

Simple focal seizures can make an induvial twitch or cause a transition in senses such as an odd smell or taste all of a sudden.
Complex focal seizures can cause an individual to have confusion, they will need a couple moments following the seizure before communicating normally again.
Secondary generalized seizures start off on one side of the brain and eventually spread to both sides.

Steps for first aid if your child has a seizure.

Witnessing someone have a seizure can be frightening for anyone, but always remember to keep yourself and those around you calm.

Comfort and assist the individual experiencing any kind of seizure by:
Talking in a calming tone.
Remain with them until the seizure is over and they are fully awake and alert.
Guide them to a comfortable place to sit.
Wait until they are alert to explain what happened to them.

Here’s how you can help someone having a tonic-clonic seizure:

Gently assist them to the ground.
Put down a pillow-like object underneath their head, such as a folded piece of clothing.
To encourage easier breathing, roll them on one side of their body.
Take off their eyeglasses.
Move any clutter or potentially dangerous objects out of the way.

If you are witnessing someone experience a seizure, remember to:

Never have the individual drink water or eat unless they are fully alert.
Never give CPR, the individual should breathe normally on their own following the seizure.
Never try to restrain the person or hold them down.
Never put objects in an individual’s mouth as this can cause damage to the jaws or teeth.

When to call 911 for children having a seizure.

The duration of the seizure runs over 5 minutes.
They have no history of seizures.
More than one seizure occurs in the same time frame.
The seizure happens while in water.
The individual has trouble walking or breathing properly after the seizure.
There is an injury during the seizure.

Regardless of the date published, no content on this website should ever be used as a replacement for direct medical advice from your primary care provider or another qualified clinician.