Seizure first aid: what to do, what not to do, and when to get help

If you see someone having a seizure, the most useful thing you can do is stay calm and keep them safe. Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes. Panic, force, and bad advice usually create more harm than help.

Seizure first aid is simple. People just need to know it clearly.

What a seizure can look like

A seizure does not always look like full-body shaking.

A person may have:

• sudden stiffening and jerking
• a fall with loss of awareness
• staring with poor response
• lip smacking or repetitive movements
• sudden confusion
• brief collapse

But when most families search seizure first aid or fit first aid, they are usually thinking about a convulsive seizure. That is the situation this page focuses on most.

What to do during a seizure

If someone is having a seizure:

1. stay calm
2. move harmful objects away
3. protect the head with something soft if possible
4. loosen tight clothing around the neck if needed
5. turn the person to the side when safe
6. time the seizure
7. stay with them until recovery begins

If the person is on the ground, let the seizure run its course while protecting them from injury.

What not to do during a seizure

This part matters just as much.

Do not:

• put anything in the mouth
• try to hold the tongue
• force food, water, or medicines during the seizure
• restrain the body forcefully
• shake or slap the person

A person having a seizure cannot swallow their tongue. Putting objects in the mouth can injure the teeth, jaw, or airway.

When emergency help is needed

Call an ambulance or get urgent medical help if:

• the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
• one seizure follows another without recovery in between
• the person has trouble breathing after the seizure
• the person is seriously injured
• the seizure happens in water
• it is the first known seizure
• the person is pregnant or has another major medical risk

These are seizure emergency steps families should remember.

What to do after the seizure

After a seizure, many people are confused, sleepy, or slow to respond.

Helpful steps include:

• keep the person on their side if drowsy
• reassure them calmly
• check for injury
• allow them to rest
• stay nearby until they are properly awake

Do not crowd the person or expect them to speak normally right away.

Why first aid matters in epilepsy

Seizure first aid does not usually stop the seizure itself. It prevents secondary harm.

That means reducing the risk of:

• head injury
• choking
• breathing obstruction
• panic-driven mistakes by bystanders

Families, school staff, and caregivers should all know these steps.