You should not put anything in the student’s mouth or try to restrain their movements during a tonic-clonic seizure.

Quick Scoop: Safe vs Unsafe Actions

When a student is having a tonic-clonic seizure (sometimes called a “grand mal” seizure), some instinctive reactions are actually dangerous.

Things you SHOULD do

  • Cushion or support their head to protect it from injury.
  • Loosen tight clothing, especially around the neck, to help with breathing.
  • Move nearby objects away so they don’t hit anything hard or sharp.
  • Time the seizure if you can and stay with the student until they fully recover.
  • When jerking stops, gently roll them onto their side (recovery position) to keep the airway clear.

A simple classroom example: a student collapses, stiffens, then begins jerking; you quickly move chairs away, slide a folded jacket under their head, loosen their tie, and ask another student to get help while you time the event.

Things you should NOT do

These are the key do-not actions teachers must avoid:

  • Do not put anything in their mouth (no fingers, pens, spoons, wallets, etc.).
    • This can cause choking, tooth damage, or jaw injury, and it does not prevent tongue swallowing (which is a myth).
  • Do not restrain or hold them down.
    • Restraining can cause injuries to you and the student.
  • Do not give food, drink, or medication until they are fully awake and alert, as they could choke.
  • Do not try mouth-to-mouth breaths during the seizure; breathing usually resumes on its own once the seizure ends.

So, if you’re answering a multiple-choice question like “Which of the following should you NOT do when a student is suffering a tonic-clonic seizure?” , the unsafe choice would be the one that involves:

  • Putting something in their mouth, or
  • Restraining their movements, or
  • Giving food or drink while the seizure is still happening or they’re not fully alert.

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