If someone is having a seizure, your job is to keep them safe, protect their airway, and know when to call emergency services.

What to do if someone is having a seizure (Quick Scoop)

1. First seconds: stay calm and protect from injury

  • Stay as calm as you can; most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes.
  • Gently ease the person to the ground if they are standing or in a chair.
  • Clear the area: move furniture, sharp or hard objects, hot items, or anything they could hit.
  • If possible, remove their glasses and loosen ties, scarves, or tight collars so they can breathe more easily.
  • If they are near a road, stairs, water, machinery, or a hot surface, quickly move them or block the hazard if it’s safe for you.

Think “protect the head, clear the space, keep them breathing.”

2. During the seizure: what to DO

For a typical tonic‑clonic (convulsive) seizure (stiffening and jerking):

  • Time the seizure from the very start; use your phone if you can.
  • Put something soft and flat under their head (folded jacket, bag, jumper) so it doesn’t hit the floor.
  • Turn them gently onto their side, or into the recovery position as soon as it’s safe (often once the jerking slows), with the mouth angled toward the ground to help saliva or vomit drain out.
  • Stay with them the whole time and speak in a calm, reassuring voice, even if they don’t respond.
  • Ask any bystanders to step back and give the person privacy while you manage the situation.
  • Look for a medical ID bracelet, necklace, or card that might give instructions or emergency contacts.

3. During the seizure: what NOT to do

These are common myths—avoid them:

  • Do not put anything in their mouth (spoons, fingers, wallets, cloth, etc.). They cannot swallow their tongue, and forcing objects in can break teeth or block the airway.
  • Do not hold them down or try to stop the movements; this can cause injuries to them and you.
  • Do not give food, drink, medicine, or water in their mouth during the seizure.
  • Do not try to give mouth‑to‑mouth or chest compressions unless they are clearly not breathing once the seizure has ended.
  • Do not shout, shake them hard, or slap them in an attempt to “wake them up.”

Your goal is safety, not stopping the seizure by force.

4. After the seizure: recovery phase

When the shaking stops:

  • Make sure they are on their side (recovery position) with their head slightly tilted back so the airway is open and fluids can drain.
  • Check breathing: it may be noisy or heavy at first, but should gradually normalize; gently clear saliva from around the mouth if needed.
  • Loosen any tight clothing further and keep them warm with a jacket or blanket if available.
  • Expect confusion, headache, or sleepiness; many people are disoriented and may not remember what happened.
  • Speak slowly and reassuringly, explain that they had a seizure, and stay with them until they are fully alert and can talk clearly.
  • Offer to call a friend, family member, or transport to get them home safely once they are fully awake.
  • If they’ve wet themselves or bitten their tongue, protect their privacy (for example, by covering them with a coat and asking onlookers to step away).

5. When to call an ambulance or emergency services

Call emergency services immediately if any of the following apply:

  • The seizure lasts more than about 5 minutes, or you’re not sure when it started and it seems prolonged.
  • The person has repeated seizures back‑to‑back without waking fully in between.
  • It’s their first known seizure, or you don’t know if they have epilepsy.
  • They are injured (serious head injury, heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, or suspected broken bones).
  • They have trouble breathing or their color is very pale or bluish after the seizure ends.
  • The seizure happens in water (bath, pool, sea) or in a particularly dangerous environment (traffic, heights).
  • They do not regain any meaningful consciousness or ability to respond after several minutes post‑seizure.
  • The person is pregnant, very young, elderly, or has other serious health problems.

If in doubt, treat it as an emergency and call.

6. Special situations and quick notes

  • Non‑convulsive or absence‑type seizures: The person may just “blank out,” stare, or do small repetitive movements; gently guide them away from danger, talk softly, and stay near until they’re fully alert.
  • Wheelchair or seated: If they are strapped in and safe, don’t try to remove them; secure the chair, support/cushion the head, and loosen tight clothing.
  • Water (pool, bath, sea): Keep the face above water, call for help or a lifeguard, get them out as soon as safely possible, then follow usual first‑aid steps and call emergency services.
  • Known epilepsy with a “rescue plan”: Some people have written plans and prescribed rescue medicines; follow those if you are trained and authorized, and still call emergency services if the plan says so.

7. Simple HTML table: key do’s and don’ts

What to do if someone is having a seizure What NOT to do
Stay calm, time the seizure, and protect from injury (move hazards, ease them to the floor). Do not panic, run away, or leave them alone.
Cushion their head with something soft and loosen tight clothing. Do not hold them down or try to stop the movements.
Turn them on their side as soon as it is safe to keep the airway clear. Do not put anything in their mouth (no objects, no fingers).
Keep others back, maintain privacy, look for medical ID, and reassure them as they wake. Do not give food, drink, or pills until they are fully awake and able to swallow normally.
Call emergency services if it lasts >5 minutes, repeats, causes injury, or if it is their first seizure. Do not delay calling for help if you are unsure or worried.

8. “Quick Scoop” style summary

  • Protect the person, don’t restrain them, and never put anything in their mouth.
  • Turn them on their side when you can, cushion the head, and loosen tight clothing.
  • Time the seizure and stay until they are fully awake, calm, and safe to leave.
  • Call emergency services if it’s long, repeated, the first seizure, in water, or if you’re worried.

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

This isn’t a substitute for formal first‑aid training; if seizures are a concern in your life or workplace, taking an epilepsy‑specific first‑aid course is strongly recommended.