How to Help During a Seizure

It can be scary to witness someone having a seizure. People with seizures can convulse, their eyes might roll back in their heads and they could lose consciousness.

Many misconceptions circulate about seizures, including that people can swallow their tongues or that you should place something in their mouths to prevent choking. In the past, some people even believed witchcraft and evil spirits were to blame!

Seizures actually are caused by uncontrolled electrical activity between neurons. And epilepsy, a seizure condition, is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

Considering 1 in 26 people will develop recurring seizures in their lifetime, we should all know what to do in the event of one.

First, you need to determine if the person is having a seizure. Though there are many types of seizures, common symptoms include loss of consciousness or awareness, staring spells, temporary confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, and cognitive symptoms like fear, anxiety or déjà vu. A seizure can cause someone to drool, scream or clench their teeth. Seizures can be triggered by flashing lights, lack of sleep, low blood sugar, stress, alcohol, not taking medication and high contrast patterns like stripes.

If you witness someone having a seizure, you can help lower the person to the ground and remove any surrounding objects that may cause harm, but do not hold the person down or place anything in the mouth. Help the person roll to a side-lying position and cushion the head. This helps the person breathe better and prevents choking on saliva.

Stay with someone having a seizure until it ends and the person is fully awake. An episode generally lasts 30 seconds to two minutes, but many people will be sleepy or confused after a seizure.

Once the seizure is over, be sure the individual is alert and sitting upright, calmly explain what happened, offer food and drink and ensure a safe trip home, if needed. After a seizure, people should stay away from heights, refrain from swimming, not use heavy machinery and be monitored while bathing unless told otherwise by a healthcare provider. In addition, some states require a person to be seizure-free for at least six months before being allowed to drive again.

Witnessing a seizure can be frightening, but in many cases, a seizure is not a medical emergency that requires you to call 911 unless:

• This is the first time they've ever had a seizure
• It follows a head injury
• It's followed by a severe headache
• More than one seizure occurs within 24 hours
• The incident lasts longer than five minutes
• The person has a fever, difficulty breathing or trouble waking, walking, speaking or thinking clearly afterward
• The person has a pre-existing condition such as diabetes, heart disease or are pregnant
• The person is injured during the seizure or it occurs in water
• The person stops breathing for longer than 30 seconds

For more information or to take the Epilepsy Foundation's Seizure Recognition and First Aid Certification online, visit:

https://learn.epilepsy.com/courses/seizure-first-aid-cert-ondemand

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