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First Aid for Seizures

Call for medical help when:

  • A convulsive seizure last more than five minutes.

  • The person does not resume breathing after the seizure. Give mouth to mouth resuscitation.

  • The person has one seizure after another.

  • The person is injured.

  • The person requests it.

  • There is no medical I.D. for epilepsy and the person is not known to have epilepsy.


Care Instructions

For a Convulsive Seizure
(generalized tonic-clonic, grand mal)

Symptoms:
The person will lose consciousness, may fall, stiffen, and make jerking movements. Difficulty breathing may cause the person to turn pale or blueish. The person may drool or become incontinent.

Care:
- Cushion head.
- Remove glasses and loosen any tight neckware.
- Turn person on side and keep airway clear.
- Track Time.

DO NOT:
- Put anything in mouth.
- Panic.
- Give oral medications during seizure.
- Restrain.

Aftercare:
Do reassure the person. Allow to rest if necessary. Stay with the person until he or she is fully awake and reoriented.

For a non-Convulsive seizure
(complex partial)

Symptoms:
Blank staring, aimlessness, chewing motions or lip smacking; often mistaken for drunkenness, drug abuse or mental illness, unable to interact.

Care:
- Do not restrain.
- Stay calm and track time.
- Redirect from hazards or remove hazards.
- Do not agitate the person (speak calmly and don't grab)

Aftercare:
Do stay with the person until recovered. Reassure and reorient. don't offer food or drink until the person is fully conscious. Allow to rest if necessary.


Epilepsy Association of Utah
1995 West 9000 South, Level B | West Jordan, UT 84088
Phone: (801) 566-5949