Protecting a Person During a Seizure

Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if:

• The person having the seizure stops breathing. After calling 911 or other emergency services, begin rescue breathing.
• The seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes.
• The person seizing is pregnant (no matter how long the seizure lasts).
• More than one seizure occurs within 24 hours.

During a seizure:

• Protect the person from injury.
  • Keep him or her from falling if you can, or try to guide the person gently to the floor.
  • Try to move furniture or other objects that might injure the person during the seizure.
  • If the person is having a seizure and is on the ground when you arrive, put something soft under his or her head.
• Do not force anything, including your fingers, into the person's mouth. Putting something in the person's mouth may cause injuries to him or her, such as chipped teeth or a fractured jaw. You could also get bitten.
• Turn the person onto his or her side, with the mouth down, unless the person resists being moved.
• Do not try to hold down or move the person.
• Try to stay calm.
• If the person vomits, turn the person onto his or her side.
• Pay close attention to what the person is doing so that you can describe the seizure to rescue personnel or doctors.
  • What kind of body movement occurred?
  • How long did the seizure last?
  • How did the person act immediately after the seizure?
  • Are there any injuries from the seizure?
• Time the length of the seizure, if possible.

After a seizure:

• Check the person for injuries.
• If you could not turn the person onto his or her side during the seizure, do so when the seizure ends and the person is more relaxed.
• If the person is having trouble breathing, use your finger to gently clear his or her mouth of any vomit or saliva.
• Loosen tight clothing around the person's neck and waist.
• Provide a safe area where the person can rest.
• Do not offer anything to eat or drink until the person is fully awake and alert.
• Stay with the person until he or she is awake and familiar with the surroundings. Most people will be sleepy or confused after a seizure.

A person who has had a seizure should not drive, swim, climb ladders, or operate machinery until he or she has seen a doctor about the seizure and the doctor has said the person is allowed to drive or operate machinery.

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised	August 25, 2011