Spiral SearchWhat Is a Seizure and How to Respond
What seizures look like, how to keep a person safe, and when to call 911.
General information, not medical advice. Reading a guide is not a substitute for a hands-on first aid or CPR class (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and local fire-rescue departments offer them). If someone may be in danger, call 911 and follow the dispatcher.
What is a seizure?
A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation or behavior. Seizures have many causes, including epilepsy, high fever, low blood sugar, head injury, stroke, infection, drug or alcohol withdrawal and heat illness.
What it can look like
- Convulsive (tonic-clonic): loss of consciousness, stiffening, then jerking of the arms and legs; usually 1 to 3 minutes.
- Focal aware or impaired awareness: staring, lip-smacking, picking at clothes, confusion, not responding.
- Absence: a brief blank stare, often in children.
- Other: sudden falls, brief jerks, odd smells or feelings.
What to do for a convulsive seizure
- Stay calm and stay with them. Note the time the seizure began.
- Protect them from injury. Move hard or sharp objects away. Cushion the head with something soft, such as a folded jacket.
- Do not hold them down or try to stop the movements.
- Do NOT put anything in their mouth. It is not possible to “swallow the tongue.”
- Loosen tight clothing around the neck, and remove glasses.
- When the jerking stops, roll the person onto their side (recovery position) so that fluids drain from the mouth.
- Stay until they are fully awake. Speak calmly and tell them where they are. Do not offer food or drink until they are alert.
Call 911 if
- The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
- Another seizure follows, or the person does not wake up between seizures.
- The person has trouble breathing, or is not breathing normally afterwards.
- It is their first seizure, or you do not know whether they have epilepsy.
- They are injured, pregnant, diabetic, or the seizure happened in water.
- They do not return to normal within a reasonable time, or they are hurt after a fall.
- The person has a high fever, or heat exposure may be involved.
Non-convulsive seizures
Stay with the person, gently guide them away from danger (traffic, stairs, hot items), speak calmly, and do not restrain them. They may not remember the episode.
Afterwards
Many people are tired and confused. If the person has epilepsy and a care plan, follow it. Medical identification bracelets and seizure action plans may list instructions.