Seizure First Aid: What You Need to Do

A seizure can be frightening to witness, but health experts say most are not medical emergencies. The priority is to protect the person from injury while allowing the seizure to run its course.

People who recognize warning signs before a seizure should move to a safe location away from sharp objects, heights, water, or moving vehicles. Sitting or lying down can help prevent injuries from falls. Loosening tight clothing and practising relaxation or deep-breathing techniques may also help some individuals.

Recognising Different Types of Seizures

Seizures can vary widely. Focal seizures may cause muscle twitching, repeated movements such as lip-smacking, confusion, or staring while the person remains partly or fully aware.

Generalized seizures often involve loss of consciousness, muscle stiffness, rhythmic jerking, falls, or brief staring spells, depending on the specific type.

First Aid During a Generalized Seizure

For people experiencing a generalized seizure, experts recommend easing them gently to the floor if they are falling, removing glasses if worn, and placing something soft, such as a folded jacket, under their head. Loosen tight clothing around the neck to aid breathing.

If the person is in a wheelchair, lock the brakes, leave any seat belt or harness fastened, and support their head until the seizure ends.

The seizure should be timed, and emergency medical services should be contacted if it lasts longer than five minutes.

What Not to Do

If someone is having a seizure, remain calm, stay with them, and note the time the seizure begins. Remove nearby objects that could cause injury and, once the convulsions stop, gently turn the person onto their side to help keep their airway open. If they wear a medical alert bracelet or carry medical information, check it for details about their condition

Certain actions can increase the risk of injury during a seizure. Do not restrain the person’s movements or attempt to hold them down. Never place any object in their mouth or try to force food, water, or medication into them until they are fully awake.

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is generally unnecessary during a seizure unless the person is not breathing after the seizure has ended. They should only be moved if they are in immediate danger, such as being close to traffic or water.

Caring for a Child with a Febrile Seizure

Febrile seizures, which occur in babies and young children with high fever, usually last only a few minutes. During the episode, caregivers should remain calm, note the time the seizure starts, remove nearby hazards, and place the child on their side on a safe surface.

The child should be taken to a healthcare provider after the seizure to determine the cause of the fever. Emergency medical help is needed if the seizure lasts more than five minutes or if the child does not recover normally afterward.

Care After the Seizure

Recovery from a seizure may involve confusion, tiredness, or disorientation. Stay with the person until they are fully alert, reassure them, and help them move to a safe and quiet place. Check for injuries and seek medical care if necessary.

After the seizure, adequate rest is recommended, along with following any treatment plan provided by a healthcare professional.

If the person falls asleep afterward, placing them in the recovery position can help keep the airway open.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Help

Immediate medical attention is necessary if:

1.The seizure lasts longer than five minutes.

2. Another seizure begins soon after the first.

3.It is the person’s first seizure.

4.The person is pregnant or has diabetes and loses consciousness.

5.The seizure occurs in water.

6..The person is injured, has difficulty breathing, or does not regain consciousness after the seizure.

The Bottom Line

Although many seizures resolve on their own without lasting harm, knowing the correct first aid steps can make a significant difference. Staying calm, protecting the person from injury, avoiding harmful interventions, and recognising when to seek emergency medical care are key to providing effective assistance.

(MNT)