Knowing what to do during a seizure is an important life skill that can help prevent injury and save lives. Seizures are more common than many people think and can happen anywhere. Learning seizure first aid and epilepsy emergency response helps you act quickly and confidently when it matters most.
What happens during a seizure
A seizure occurs when there is sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This can affect movement, awareness, and behavior.
There are several types of seizures, including:
- Focal seizures: Affect one part of the brain and may cause confusion or unusual behavior
- Generalized seizures: Involve the whole brain and often lead to shaking or loss of consciousness
- Absence seizures: Short episodes where the person appears to stare into space
Signs of a seizure can include:
- Sudden confusion
- Jerking or shaking movements
- Loss of awareness
- Staring blankly
- Falling to the ground
Most seizures last only a few minutes and stop naturally.
Step-by-step seizure first aid
Understanding seizure first aid is essential when learning what to do during a seizure. Acting quickly and correctly helps reduce injury and supports safe recovery.
Step 1: Stay calm and ensure safety
Stay calm and keep the area safe. reassure others and avoid panic so you can respond clearly. this is an important part of proper epilepsy emergency response.
Step 2: Protect the person from injury
Remove nearby dangerous objects and gently guide the person to the ground if needed. place something soft under their head to prevent head injury.
Step 3: Positioning and airway safety
Turn the person onto their side to keep the airway clear. loosen tight clothing around the neck. this helps reduce choking risk and supports breathing during seizure first aid.
Step 4: Time the seizure
Start timing as soon as the seizure begins. most last only a few minutes. if it goes over 5 minutes or repeats, seek urgent medical help.
Step 5: Recovery and aftercare
After the seizure stops, stay with the person. help them rest, speak calmly, and reassure them until they are fully alert and safe.
What Not to Do During a Seizure
Avoiding mistakes is just as important as knowing what to do during a seizure. The wrong actions can increase the risk of injury and interfere with proper seizure first aid.
- Do not hold the person down: Trying to restrain the person can cause injuries to both you and them.
- Do not put anything in their mouth: This is a common myth and can lead to serious harm such as choking or broken teeth.
- Do not give food or drink too soon: The person may not be fully alert, which increases the risk of choking.
- Do not try to stop their movements: Seizures cannot be stopped by force, and doing so may make the situation worse.
These guidelines are an important part of safe epilepsy emergency response and help ensure the person is protected until the seizure ends naturally.
When to call for emergency help
Most seizures do not require emergency care, but knowing when to act is an important part of epilepsy emergency response and effective seizure first aid.
Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if the person has repeated seizures, has trouble breathing afterward, or is injured during the seizure.
You should also seek urgent help if the person has never had a seizure before, is pregnant, has diabetes, or has a seizure in water. In these cases, medical assessment is essential to ensure safety.
How carers can prepare
Carers play a vital role in ensuring safety and support for individuals with epilepsy. Good preparation helps improve confidence when handling seizure first aid and responding to epilepsy emergency response situations.
Proper ndis support workers training helps carers recognize different seizure types, provide correct first aid, and respond calmly in emergencies. Carers should also prepare an emergency contact list, understand the person’s medical history, and know exactly when to seek urgent help.
With a strong focus on person-centred support, Lotus Disability Care helps individuals build independence, confidence, and a better quality of life through tailored services and compassionate care.If you’d like to learn more or speak with the team, you can get in touch with us.
