First aid for seizures

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HealthWiki > Epilepsy and Seizures > Chapter 2: How to help a person having a seizure > First aid for seizures

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

• Chapter 2: How to help a person having a seizure
• First aid for seizures
• Seizure emergencies
• After the seizure
• Other problems that can happen with seizures
• When to see a health worker
• Training the community in seizure first aid

When people are asked what happens to someone during a seizure, they will often describe a person falling down, their body getting stiff and making jerking movements, and the person losing consciousness. This is one of the most commonly recognized type of seizures, called a tonic-clonic seizure.

There are other types of seizures that may cause only some of these effects. In some seizures, the person does not fall down and does not lose consciousness. A person having an absence seizure may stare blankly for a few moments and then recover. A person having a myoclonic seizure may have a quick muscle jerk (like what happens sometimes when you are falling asleep) and recover almost immediately.

The kind of seizure first aid you can offer depends on the effects of the seizure on the person. No matter what type of seizure a person has, they will benefit from first aid that offers them comfort and helps them stay safe and recover. For information about different types of seizures, see Chapter 3.

Because tonic-clonic seizures are common and are most likely to have harmful effects, from falling down or losing consciousness, we focus on them in this chapter. If the person you are helping has a different kind of seizure, please keep reading. You will find descriptions of other aspects of seizures and information that will help you support the safety and recovery of the person having the seizure.

Steps of seizure first aid

To help a person having any type of seizure, remain calm and alert, and follow these steps. Remember that quick, calm, and gentle action is more important than getting every detail right.

1. Stay calm and stay close. Speak gently, they may be able to hear you even if they cannot respond. If appropriate, let others around you know the person is having a seizure. Do not leave them alone.
2. Protect them from injury. If the person is standing or walking, guide them away from streets, stairs, hot or hard surfaces—anything that might hurt them. Remove any sharp or heavy objects that could cause injury. If they have fallen, clear away anything that could harm them, and ask people to give them space. After the seizure ends and the person is awake, help them move to a safer place.

Watching the time
Recovery position: With the child lying on their side, top leg bent to anchor them, place a cloth, cushion, or the child’s hand under their head to help keep their airway open.
3. If a person falls during a seizure, gently roll them into the recovery position with the top leg bent so they do not roll over. Place a cushion or their arm under their head. Tilt the head back slightly and raise their chin gently to help keep their airway open. During a seizure, muscles may relax or may contract, and because the tongue is a large muscle, it can block the airway. This slight tilt and lift with a person lying on their side instead of their back will help saliva, vomit, or other fluids drain from the mouth.
4. Loosen any tight or buttoned clothing around the neck to support breathing and prevent choking. If a person wears glasses, remove them carefully.
5. Do not restrain. Do not hold a person down or try to stop their movements during a seizure. This can injure both you and the person having the seizure.
6. Do not put anything in their mouth or between their teeth. This can cause them to bite their tongue or cheek and bleed in their mouth. If they swallow something, it could block their airway and make breathing difficult. (It is not possible for someone having a seizure to swallow their own tongue.)
7. Comfort and reassure the person as they recover. As the person wakes up, gently help them recover. Talk to them about what happened, offer comfort, and make sure they are all right. Eventually, help them sit up in a comfortable and safe position. To prevent choking, offer water only after they are fully awake, able to talk, and can swallow without discomfort.

Tips for giving seizure first aid

Time the seizure. Note the start time and how long the seizure lasts. If a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, or if another seizure starts soon after, get medical help right away (see “Seizure emergencies”). Use a watch or phone to measure how long the seizure lasts.

Taking videos. A video can help a doctor or other health worker identify a person’s seizure type and offer treatment options. Only take a video after making sure the person is safe. Never let recording get in the way of helping. When recording video:

• show the whole body, not just the head.
• record any sounds.
• keep recording until the person starts to recover.

Ask the person if they would like a copy of the video to share with a doctor or other health worker. Always respect the person’s privacy and dignity by deleting the video after you share it with them.

As a person recovers, always ask, “Is it all right if I help you?”

Touching a person during a seizure. In some cultures, physical touch, especially from a stranger or someone of the opposite gender, can be uncomfortable or even prohibited. If you know the person’s background or preferences, do your best to honor them—step back and ask a friend or family member to assist. If you are in doubt about a person’s preferences, you can keep them safe without touching them. Move any dangerous objects away and clear space. Offer comfort with kind words.

How to help a person having a seizure in a wheelchair

When a person in a wheelchair has a seizure, the first step is to put the wheelchair brakes on. Usually, manual wheelchairs have brakes near the back wheels. The brakes look like levers or handles that must be pushed down or forward until they lock against the wheel. But some wheelchairs engage their brakes by pulling the lever up or back, and others may have brakes near the footrest.

After the wheelchair is secure, the person can stay in the wheelchair during their seizure. Do not try to remove a harness or seatbelt if they are using one, but gently support their upper body to prevent them from falling out of the chair. It might help to gently turn their head to one side to help saliva drain from their mouth and keep their airway clear. Stay calm, do not put anything in their mouth, and remain with the person until the seizure ends and they are fully awake.

If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, it is a medical emergency—get help!

What not to do during a seizure

Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.

Do not throw water on the person. This will not stop a seizure.

Do not make the person smell an onion, leather shoe, or other strong-smelling item. This will not bring a person back to consciousness and can worsen confusion.

Do not try to wake the person by slapping them or shouting. This will not stop a seizure and can increase confusion or cause injury.

Do not rub metal objects, keys, or other items on a person’s hand. These actions will not stop a seizure and can distract from giving first aid that could help.

Do not try to “pull out” a spirit or a curse by using rituals that involve beating a person or making them breathe smoke. These will not stop a seizure and can cause injury and breathing problems. Seizures are not caused by spirits, curses, or demons.

Do not cover the person with blankets to “trap the spirit” or reduce shaking. This will not stop a seizure and can cause overheating and breathing problems.

I worried my cousin would bite her tongue during a seizure, and I wanted to put a spoon in her mouth to prevent that. But her mother explained how that could injure her! Don’t put anything in a person’s mouth during a seizure.

This page was updated:19 May 2026