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First Aid for Seizures

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What is the First Aid for Generalized Convulsive Seizures?

When someone is having a tonic clonic or grand mal seizure, you can help by following these steps:

1) Stay Calm! You can help. Look for medical alert bracelet/necklace or other device

2) Time the seizure. Remember 5 Minutes.

3) Clear the scene, give them space. Protect from injury. Move anything dangerous out of the way, cushion the person’s head with something soft (sweater, jacket)

4) Loosen anything around their neck

5) Remove glasses

6) DO NOT restrain the person. We cannot stop the seizure.

7) DO NOT put anything in the person’s mouth. Can cause injury.

8) Gently roll the person onto their side as the seizure subsides. It may be more dangerous to the person to roll them while in the seizure rather than leave them on their back.

9) After the seizure talk to the person nicely. Do not leave the person until they are aware again, they may need to rest or sleep.

What is the First Aid for Focal Non-Convulsive Seizures?

When someone is having a Focal Impaired Awareness seizure, you can help by following these steps:

1) Stay Calm! You can help. Look for medical alert bracelet/necklace or other device

2) Stay with the person

3) Move dangerous objects out of the way/clear path/block from hazards, do not yell or scream at them

4) Give them space, Gently guide the person away from danger, do not restrain, do not approach from front or back (fight or flight) if you can guide them by the waist do that without injuring yourself. Or block their path, do not encroach upon them, may cause aggressive outburst

5) After the seizure, speak nicely to the person and reassure them. Stay with the person until they are aware again.

First aid for people who use a wheelchair: 

  • Put the brakes on, to stop the chair from moving
  • Allow the person to remain seated in the chair during the seizure (unless they have a care plan which says to move them). Moving the person could possibly lead to injuries for the person having the seizure and the caregiver. There could be certain attachments or medical reasons for the person to remain within the chair.
  • If the person has a seatbelt or harness on, leave it fastened
  • If the person doesn’t have a seatbelt or harness, support them gently, so they don’t fall out of the chair
  • Cushion the person’s head and support it gently.
  • Do not restrain
  • Afterward, talk gently to the person, be comforting and reassuring and stay with them until they become re-oriented.

If you use a wheelchair or any other mobility device, speak with your doctor about any specific treatment options or care packages they would like you to follow during or after a seizure.

Calling an Ambulance:

In assessing the need to call an ambulance, a combination of factors has to be considered. For example, if
cyanosis (blue or gray color) or labored breathing accompanies the seizure, then an ambulance may be called earlier. If a person is known to have epilepsy and the seizure pattern is uncomplicated and predictable, then ambulance help may not be necessary.

CALL AN AMBULANCE:
• If a convulsive seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
• If consciousness or regular breathing does not return after the seizure has ended.
• If seizure repeats without full recovery between seizures.
• If confusion after a seizure persists for more than one hour.
• If a seizure occurs in water and there is any chance that the person has inhaled water. Inhaling water can cause heart or lung damage.
• If it is a first-time seizure, or the person is injured, pregnant, or has diabetes. A person with diabetes may experience a seizure as a result of extremely high or low blood sugar levels.

What is Status Epilepticus?

-Seizures usually end naturally, but on rare occasions a seizure doesn’t stop.

Prolonged seizure activity or seizures that occur in a series and person does not recover between seizures

– When a seizure goes on longer than 5 minutes, or repeats in a series, the person is in status epilepticus.

–  Status epilepticus is considered a medical emergency. Get help right away.

*Most common in the very young and older persons*