First aid advice

In the event of a seizure the following actions should be carried out:

• Stay calm.
  
  
• Loosen any tight clothing around the patient’s neck.
  
  
• Protect patient from injury (remove sharp or hard objects from the vicinity; or guide you away from danger.
  
  
• Cushion the patient’s head if they fall down.
  
  
• Once the seizure has finished, aid breathing by gently placing the patient on his/her side (known as recover position as shown below) if they have fallen.
  
  
  

  Recover position

  
  
• Stay with the patient until they come round and are fully recovered.
  
  
• Be quietly reassuring.
  
  
• Following recovery, the patient should inform their doctor or attend the emergency department.
  
  

Do not:

• Try to restrain the patient.
  
  
• Put anything in the patient’s mouth or force anything between their teeth.
  
  
• Try to move them unless they are in danger.
  
  
• Give the patient anything to drink until they are fully recovered.
  
  

An ambulance should be called if:

• A convulsion lasts for more than five minutes.
  
  
• One convulsion follows another without the patient regaining consciousness.
  
  
• The patient is badly injured during a seizure or may have inhaled water e.g. in the bath or swimming pool.

 

 

 

 

 

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