If someone near you is having a seizure, your job is to keep them safe, protect their breathing, and know when to call emergency services. Here’s a clear, step‑by‑step guide you can remember in a crisis.

First: Stay Calm and Make Them Safe

  • Stay with the person and try to stay calm ; most seizures are brief and stop on their own.
  • Gently ease them to the ground if they are standing or in a chair, so they do not fall and hit their head.
  • Move furniture, sharp or hard objects, or anything they could hit away from them.
  • Put something soft under their head (a folded jacket, towel, or your hands) and loosen tight clothing around the neck.

Protect Their Breathing (Do This, Don’t Do That)

  • Turn them gently on their side as soon as you safely can; this helps keep the airway open and lets saliva or vomit drain out.
  • Check that nothing is blocking their mouth, but do not put your fingers in their mouth.
  • Do not put anything in their mouth (no spoon, wallet, fingers, pill, or water); you cannot stop them “swallowing their tongue,” but you can cause serious injury.
  • Do not try to hold them down or stop the shaking; let the seizure run its course while the area is safe.

What You Should Watch and Remember

  • Look at a clock and note when the seizure starts and when it stops; duration is important for doctors.
  • Notice what happens: which body parts are jerking, if they go stiff first, if they change color, or if they stop breathing briefly.
  • Check for any medical bracelet or necklace that might say “epilepsy,” “seizure disorder,” or other conditions.

When to Call Emergency Services

Call emergency services (such as 911, 000, 112, or your local number) right away if:

  • The seizure lasts more than about 5 minutes, or you are not sure it is stopping.
  • One seizure ends and another begins without full waking up in between.
  • It is the person’s first known seizure, or you do not know if they have had one before.
  • The person has trouble breathing or does not wake up and start responding after the seizure.
  • They are injured (head injury, serious cut, fall, or possible neck/back injury).
  • They are pregnant, very frail, or have other serious medical conditions.

If you are ever in doubt, it is safer to call.

After the Seizure: Recovery Position and Reassurance

When the jerking stops:

  • Make sure they are on their side (recovery position), with their chin gently tilted up so they can breathe easily.
  • Stay close and speak quietly and reassuringly; people often feel confused, exhausted, or embarrassed.
  • Let them rest; don’t force them to sit or stand immediately, and don’t give food, drink, or pills until they are fully awake and able to swallow safely.
  • If they want to get up after a few minutes and seem fully alert, help them to a safe place to sit and keep an eye on them.

Things You Should Never Do

  • Do not put anything in their mouth.
  • Do not splash water on them or try to “wake them up” with shaking or slapping.
  • Do not try to give them medication, food, or drink during the seizure.
  • Do not crowd around them or film them; protect their dignity and privacy.

A Quick Mental Checklist (ABC + TIME)

You can remember a simple pattern:

  • A – Airway: Turn them on their side, keep the mouth clear, and tilt the head slightly back to help breathing.
  • B – Breathing: Watch their chest; if they are not breathing after the seizure, start basic CPR if you know how and get emergency help.
  • C – Circulation: Look for injury, bleeding, or signs of shock (very pale, clammy).
  • TIME – Time the seizure, identify if it is their first episode, monitor recovery, and call emergency services if it lasts too long or you are unsure.

Example Scenario (To Picture It)

Imagine you are on a bus and a passenger suddenly stiffens and falls, then begins to jerk:

  1. Tell the driver or someone nearby to stop the bus and call emergency services.
  2. Gently guide the person to lie on their side in the aisle, cushion their head with your bag or jacket, and move bags/metal poles away from their body if possible.
  3. Loosen a scarf or tight collar and keep others from crowding or recording.
  4. Time the seizure; if the jerking stops after a couple of minutes, keep them on their side, talk calmly, and stay until help arrives or they fully recover.

Forum‑Style Tip: What People With Epilepsy Often Say

People who live with seizures frequently say they want others to:

  • Keep them safe, not panicked.
  • Protect their privacy, not stare or record video.
  • Stay until they feel oriented again and help explain what happened if they are confused.

“You don’t have to be an expert. Just keep me safe, roll me on my side, time it, and call for help if it goes on too long.”

TL;DR – What to Do if Someone Has a Seizure

  • Stay calm, keep them safe, and ease them to the ground.
  • Turn them on their side, cushion their head, and loosen tight clothing.
  • Do not put anything in their mouth or hold them down.
  • Time the seizure and call emergency services if it lasts over 5 minutes, repeats, or you are worried.
  • Stay with them, let them rest, and reassure them when it is over.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.