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🚨 What To Do If Someone Is Having a Seizure

Stay Calm. Keep Them Safe. Know What To Do.

A seizure can happen suddenly and can be frightening to witness. A person may fall to the ground, lose consciousness, become stiff, or experience uncontrollable shaking. During that moment, knowing what to do—and what not to do—can make an important difference.

At Saving Grace First Aid/CPR/AED, we believe emergency preparedness starts with knowing how to respond when someone needs help.

🧠 What Is a Seizure?

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can look very different from person to person. Some involve shaking and loss of consciousness, while others may cause staring, confusion, unusual movements, or a temporary loss of awareness.

Regardless of how a seizure looks, your first priority is safety.

❤️ What Should You Do?

1. Stay Calm

Seizures can be alarming, but try to remain calm. A calm response allows you to focus on protecting the person from injury.

2. Protect Them From Injury

If the person is falling, help them safely to the ground if possible.

Move nearby objects that could cause injury, such as furniture, sharp objects, or hot items.

Do not attempt to restrain the person. Let the seizure run its course.

3. Protect Their Head

Place something soft and flat under their head, such as a folded jacket or towel.

If they are wearing glasses, carefully remove them if you can do so safely.

4. Time the Seizure

Look at the clock and note when the seizure begins.

Timing matters. A seizure lasting more than five minutes is a medical emergency.

5. Turn Them on Their Side When Possible

Once the seizure has stopped—or when you can safely do so during the seizure—place the person on their side in the recovery position. This can help keep the airway clear and allow fluids to drain from the mouth.

6. Stay With Them

Remain with the person until they are fully awake and alert.

After a seizure, they may be confused, tired, frightened, or disoriented. Speak calmly and reassure them.

❌ What NOT To Do During a Seizure

There are several common myths about seizures that can actually cause harm.

Never:

* ❌ Put anything in their mouth.

* ❌ Try to force their mouth open.

* ❌ Put your fingers in their mouth.

* ❌ Give them food, water, or medication until they are fully alert.

* ❌ Hold them down or try to stop their movements.

* ❌ Attempt to move them unless they are in immediate danger.

A person cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure. Putting an object or your fingers in their mouth can cause serious injury.

📞 When Should You Call 911?

Call 911 or your local emergency number if:

* The seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer.

* Another seizure begins shortly after the first one.

* The person has trouble breathing or does not regain consciousness.

* The person is seriously injured.

* The seizure occurs in water.

* It is the person’s first known seizure.

* The person is pregnant.

* The person has a serious medical condition, such as diabetes.

* You are unsure whether the person is recovering normally.

When in doubt, call for emergency medical assistance.

👶 Seizures in Children

Seizures involving children can be especially frightening. The same basic principles apply: protect the child from injury, do not restrain them, do not put anything in their mouth, and carefully monitor the duration of the seizure.

If the seizure lasts five minutes or longer, or if the child is having difficulty breathing or recovering, call 911.

❤️ After the Seizure

When the seizure ends, check that the person is breathing normally and place them in the recovery position if appropriate.

They may be sleepy or confused. Stay with them and provide reassurance.

If they have a known seizure disorder and have an established seizure action plan, follow the plan when appropriate and when you are trained to do so.

🩺 Be Prepared Before an Emergency Happens

You don’t need to be a medical professional to help someone during a seizure. You simply need to know the correct steps, remain calm, and avoid actions that could cause additional harm.

First aid knowledge can turn panic into purposeful action.

At Saving Grace First Aid/CPR/AED, our goal is to help individuals, families, caregivers, workplaces, schools, churches, and communities become more prepared to respond when an emergency happens.

💙 Saving Lives Starts With You.

Don’t wait until an emergency happens to learn what to do.

Learn First Aid. Learn CPR. Learn AED. Be ready to help save a life.

Saving Grace First Aid/CPR/AED

Preparing Communities. Empowering Families. Saving Lives.

Disclaimer: This information is for general first-aid education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or hands-on training. If you are facing an emergency, call 911