Seizure First Aid

Don't We Already Know What To Do?
There is probably very little point in even writing this- cause we all know that when you witness a seizure, you try and open the person's mouth so that they don't swallow their tongue. Then you call them an ambulance. Right?

WRONG!

If you were reading the above paragraph to yourself thinking "yup, yup, right, exactly!" ... then please read below in great detail. Then re-read it.

Witnessing a Seizure.
Witnessing a seizure for the first time is difficult. It is important to know that the person having a generalized seizure is not in pain and is not conscious. Many people feel scared when they witness a seizure. This is OK. Take a deep breath and know that you can be a significant help to the person having the seizure by following a few simple steps.

What To Do.
- Stay calm.
- Ensure your own safety. If you can't safely approach the individual, then simply stand back.
- If possible, make sure the individual having the seizure is not in harm's way (eg, street, subway, etc.).
- Place something soft under their head so they don’t hit it.
- Pay attention to the length of the seizure (only call an ambulance if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes).
- Maintain a free space around the individual, don’t allow crowding.
- Once the individual stops moving, try and place them on their side. There is a chance they could vomit. Being on their side ensures their safety from choking.
- The individual may be disoriented after a seizure so be careful not to frighten them. They could react violently if you try to grab them (imagine what you'd do if you woke up disoriented to a stranger grabbing you).
- Try and stay (or find someone to stay) with the individual until they recover fully (5 to 20 minutes). Sadly, there have been reports of people being robbed during a seizure. Even if you can't do any of the above, try to stick around and watch over the person. When they regain consciousness, gently let them know that they have had a seizure and that everything is OK.

What To Avoid Doing.
- Do not try and open the individual’s mouth or place anything in their mouth. Their jaw is locked shut during a tonic-clonic seizure and trying to open their mouth could damage their jaw. There is no risk of them swallowing their tongue.
- Do not try and pin the individual down.
- Do not call an ambulance/911 unless the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes. Although scary, a seizure is not a medical emergency. The individual who had the seizure is the one who ends up having to pay for the ambulance ride.