How Do I Help When Someone Has a Seizure?

Jenna Congdon
18 hours ago
4 min read

We've all watched a TV scene where a character has a seizure. They fall to the ground, shaking violently. A crowd gathers, and the hero shouts for someone to call 911, STAT!

Understanding Seizures

Far from looking like a moment on your favorite medical drama, seizures take many forms, and they don’t always mean you need to call an ambulance.

A seizure happens when a person's brain experiences a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity. This can affect their movement, senses, and consciousness.

There are different types of seizures that are named based on which parts of the brain are involved and what type of symptoms the affected person experiences. Focal seizures affect only one area of the brain, while a generalized seizure affects both sides of the brain at the same time. (1)

Not all seizures involve dramatic shaking movements, and the affected person may not always be unconscious. Depending on the type of seizure, the person may shake or jerk one or both sides of the body. They may drool, lose control of their bowels or bladder, clench their teeth, or have jerking eye movements. Or, they may simply appear to “stare off” and go very still. They could be awake and able to remember the seizure, or they may be unconscious.

Some people have what’s called an “aura”. This is a phase just as the seizure begins when the person experiences symptoms such as changes to their senses, nausea, or a headache.

After a seizure, the person might be confused for several minutes to several hours. They may be very tired or have sore muscles. This is called the postictal phase. (1)

What To Do If You See Someone Having a Seizure

Stay calm. Speak in a soothing voice, and don’t crowd them. Politely ask onlookers to leave.
Start a timer. The length of the seizure may change what care the person needs.
Remove anything nearby that could injure the person.
Cushion their head with something soft.
Check for a medical alert bracelet or ID card. This could give you information about what to do.
If they are unconscious, roll them onto their side. This helps to protect their airway.
Stay with them until they are fully awake and alert.

What Not To Do

DO NOT place anything in their mouth.
DO NOT hold them down or try to stop the seizure movements.
DO NOT attempt to move the person unless they are in a dangerous location, such as on the road or in the water.
DO NOT leave the person alone.

When to call 911

Even though a seizure may be scary to watch, having one doesn’t automatically mean someone needs to go to the hospital. (3) Call 911 only if:

If it’s their first seizure ever, or if you aren’t certain whether or not they’ve ever had a seizure.
The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes. Remember to check the clock as soon as it starts.
They have multiple seizures back-to-back, without fully recovering in between.
They sustain a serious injury, appear to have trouble breathing after the seizure, or are unconscious for a long period of time afterwards.

After the Seizure: Post-Seizure Care & What You Can Do

The seizure should be over in a few minutes. (If not, remember to call 911). Continue to be calm, and stay with the person. Check to make sure they are breathing easily and that they are comfortable. Don’t give them anything to eat or drink until they are fully alert and can sit up.

When they are alert, share the details of the seizure: what it looked like, how long it lasted, and what happened just before it started. This can be helpful for them to tell their doctor.

Remember, a seizure is not the person’s fault; they may feel disoriented or embarrassed. Be supportive and kind.

Debunking the Myths

There are lots of misconceptions about seizures. Let’s clear up a few.

“Seizures are rare”.

Actually, about 10% of people will have a seizure at some point in their lives. (1)

“Everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy”.

Having one seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. To be diagnosed with epilepsy, you need to have at least two seizures more than 24 hours apart, and the cause of those seizures must fit specific criteria. About 1.2% of people in the United States have epilepsy. (2)

“A person can swallow their tongue during a seizure”.

This isn’t possible. However, it’s possible they could bite their tongue. It's still not safe to put anything in their mouth because they could choke on it.

“Seizures always involve full-body convulsions or twitching and jerking movements”.

Seizure symptoms vary. The person may simply stare off into space, they may have repetitive eye movements or lip smacking, or they may have jerking movements in only one area of their body.

“Everyone who has a seizure has to go to the hospital”.

Not every seizure requires hospitalization. Many people who experience seizures just need time to rest afterwards, and there is no reason to go to the hospital. Check out the list above to learn when you should call 911.

“All seizures happen for similar reasons”.

Many things can cause seizures besides having epilepsy, including abnormal blood sugar or electrolyte levels, serious infections or illness, high fevers, brain tumors, or drug or alcohol intoxication.

How to Communicate Your Needs If You Experience Seizures

If you experience seizures, it’s useful to have a plan so that those around you know how to help.

Create a seizure action plan. Write down your typical seizure symptoms, what warning signs or triggers you have, how long your seizures usually last, and your emergency contacts. Include what you want people to do to help you during and after a seizure.

Share the plan with people at work or school, and carry a written copy or medical ID card.If you're comfortable, be open about discussing your seizure with your social network so that you feel safe and supported.

You Can Support Seizure Safety

Share this information with friends and family, and consider getting trained in CPR or first aid so you're prepared to help during a medical event.

With increased awareness and a few smart steps, we all can contribute to safer seizure responses and reduce the stigma around seizures and epilepsy.

References

Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board