Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow to Help During a SeizureWhen to Call 911After the SeizureShould You Get First Aid Training?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How to Help During a Seizure

When to Call 911

After the Seizure

Should You Get First Aid Training?

First aid for epilepticseizuresis mostly designed to keep the person safe. While there are different types of seizures with varyingsymptoms, first aid is most urgent for seizures that cause convulsions, loss of consciousness, and falling.

It usually involves guiding the person to the floor, rolling them on their side (if possible), and removing any hazards until the episode passes. It’s not always necessary to call 911, but you should do so if the seizure is prolonged, if multiple seizures occur close together, or if the person is choking or otherwise in danger.

Read on to learn more about what you should and shouldn’t do when a seizure strikes.

1:43Knowing What to Do When Someone Has a Seizure

1:43

Knowing What to Do When Someone Has a Seizure

When someone is having a seizure, your main goal is to keep them from being injured. Here’s what to do if you see someone go into a seizure:

You may have heard the old myth about the risk of someone choking on their own tongue during a seizure. This isn’t something that actually happens, and if you try to force something in their mouth, you could end up injuring them or getting bitten.

Can You Prevent a Seizure?If you suspect a seizure is coming on, there’s nothing you can do to prevent it. However, you may be able to help the person lie down or get to a safe place before it strikes.

Can You Prevent a Seizure?

If you suspect a seizure is coming on, there’s nothing you can do to prevent it. However, you may be able to help the person lie down or get to a safe place before it strikes.

After someone has a seizure, it’s common for them to remain unconscious for a short period of time. As long as they’re breathing and uninjured, you may not need to get emergency medical help.

An illustration with information about when to call 911 for someone having an epilepsy seizure

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, you should call 911 when:

It’s also important to seek emergent help if the seizure occurs in water or if an injury occurs due to the seizure.

Use your judgment. Even if none of the above criteria are met, if something seems out of the ordinary for someone, call 911.

When the person wakes up after the seizure, they may be disoriented and not know what happened. Doctors call this thepostictal state. Reassure the person that everything is OK and calmly let them know what happened. It’s important to make sure that any injuries are taken care of.

If you have called for emergency help, the paramedics (and emergency physician) may ask you what the person was doing just prior to having the seizure. In some cases this information can be helpful in determining seizure triggers.

Let the emergency staff know about any other conditions the person has that may contribute to seizures. For example, some people with diabetes and epilepsy may have low blood sugar before a seizure starts.

If you’re around someone with epilepsy, you may want to look into epilepsy first aid training. TheCenters for Disease Control (CDC) offers programsfor several types of professional people who are likely to encounter seizures, such as school staff, law enforcement, childcare workers, and those who take care of older adults.

If someone in your family has epilepsy, you might want to consider having seizure drills, so everyone can practice responding to them the right way. Also, check with your local Red Cross or other organization that offers first aid training to see if they have special seizure training classes.

The Red Cross offers afirst aid appthat may be helpful during a seizure or other medical crises.

A Word From Verywell

The first time you witness a seizure, it can be pretty upsetting. It’s normal to have a variety of emotions about it. Take the time to talk to someone about your experience. If you’re having trouble adapting to an epilepsy diagnosis in someone you care about, it’s OK to ask for help. You may want to consider a mental health therapist or family counselor to help get you, and possibly other loved ones, get through it.

How Seizures Are Caused

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.First aid for seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Seizure first aid training and certification.Josephson CB, Engbers JD, Sajobi TT, et al.An investigation into the psychosocial effects of the postictal state.Neurology. 2016;86(8):723-30. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002398Brennan M, Whitehouse F.Case study: seizures and hypoglycemia.Clinical Diabetes. 2012;30(1):23-24. doi:10.2337/diaclin.30.1.23Additional ReadingNoble A, Marson A, Tudur-Smith C, et al.Seizure First Aid Training’ for People with Epilepsy Who Attend Emergency Departments, and Their Family and Friends: Study Protocol for Intervention Development and a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.BMJ Open. 2015. 5(7):e009040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009040.Snape D, Morgan M, Ridsdale L, et al.Developing and Assessing the Acceptability of an Epilepsy First Aid Training Intervention for Patients who Visit UK Emergency Departments: A Multi-Method Study of Patients and Professionals.Epilepsy and Behavior. 2017. 68:177-185. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.01.006.

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.First aid for seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Seizure first aid training and certification.Josephson CB, Engbers JD, Sajobi TT, et al.An investigation into the psychosocial effects of the postictal state.Neurology. 2016;86(8):723-30. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002398Brennan M, Whitehouse F.Case study: seizures and hypoglycemia.Clinical Diabetes. 2012;30(1):23-24. doi:10.2337/diaclin.30.1.23Additional ReadingNoble A, Marson A, Tudur-Smith C, et al.Seizure First Aid Training’ for People with Epilepsy Who Attend Emergency Departments, and Their Family and Friends: Study Protocol for Intervention Development and a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.BMJ Open. 2015. 5(7):e009040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009040.Snape D, Morgan M, Ridsdale L, et al.Developing and Assessing the Acceptability of an Epilepsy First Aid Training Intervention for Patients who Visit UK Emergency Departments: A Multi-Method Study of Patients and Professionals.Epilepsy and Behavior. 2017. 68:177-185. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.01.006.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.First aid for seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Seizure first aid training and certification.Josephson CB, Engbers JD, Sajobi TT, et al.An investigation into the psychosocial effects of the postictal state.Neurology. 2016;86(8):723-30. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002398Brennan M, Whitehouse F.Case study: seizures and hypoglycemia.Clinical Diabetes. 2012;30(1):23-24. doi:10.2337/diaclin.30.1.23

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.First aid for seizures.

Epilepsy Foundation.Seizure first aid training and certification.

Josephson CB, Engbers JD, Sajobi TT, et al.An investigation into the psychosocial effects of the postictal state.Neurology. 2016;86(8):723-30. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002398

Brennan M, Whitehouse F.Case study: seizures and hypoglycemia.Clinical Diabetes. 2012;30(1):23-24. doi:10.2337/diaclin.30.1.23

Noble A, Marson A, Tudur-Smith C, et al.Seizure First Aid Training’ for People with Epilepsy Who Attend Emergency Departments, and Their Family and Friends: Study Protocol for Intervention Development and a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.BMJ Open. 2015. 5(7):e009040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009040.Snape D, Morgan M, Ridsdale L, et al.Developing and Assessing the Acceptability of an Epilepsy First Aid Training Intervention for Patients who Visit UK Emergency Departments: A Multi-Method Study of Patients and Professionals.Epilepsy and Behavior. 2017. 68:177-185. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.01.006.

Noble A, Marson A, Tudur-Smith C, et al.Seizure First Aid Training’ for People with Epilepsy Who Attend Emergency Departments, and Their Family and Friends: Study Protocol for Intervention Development and a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.BMJ Open. 2015. 5(7):e009040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009040.

Snape D, Morgan M, Ridsdale L, et al.Developing and Assessing the Acceptability of an Epilepsy First Aid Training Intervention for Patients who Visit UK Emergency Departments: A Multi-Method Study of Patients and Professionals.Epilepsy and Behavior. 2017. 68:177-185. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.01.006.

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