First Aid Tips - How to deal with a seizure

Dealing with seizures

If you see someone having a seizure it can be frightening, but try to stay calm and do the following:-

Move any dangerous objects away and gently protect the person’s head with a folded coat or your hands.

Move bystanders away to protect the person’s modesty.

Loosen any tight clothing around their neck.

Never try to restrain the casualty and never place anything in their mouth.

Note the time and duration of the seizure.

If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes call an ambulance, or if the person has a second seizure or if they have injured themselves, or if it’s the first time the person has had a seizure.

Afterwards, open the airway and check for normal breathing.  Start CPR if needed or place them in the recovery position.

Constantly monitor airway and breathing.  They should wake within a few minutes but may not be ‘alert’ for 20 minutes or so.  Stay with them and talk to them calmly.  They also shouldn't have any food or drink until they fully recover.

A seizure is caused by a temporary burst of excess electrical activity in the brain.  Causes can include epilepsy, reduced oxygen, stroke, head injury or a high temperature.

If you’d like to find out more about how you could help someone in an emergency, why not book onto one of our highly-acclaimed first aid courses?  We have first aid training courses every week in Walsall. Wolverhampton, Warwickshire and Leicestershire.  Or if there’s a group of you, we'd love to come to you.  For more information please visit our website www.firstresponsefirstaid.co.uk or call our friendly and helpful team today, on 01543 372888.