Seizure First Aid
First Aid
Stay calm. Time the seizure. Protect the person from injury and stay with them as they recover.
Emergency Help
Call 911 if:
- The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
- Another seizure occurs before the person fully recovers.
- The person has difficulty breathing, is choking or has trouble waking up afterward.
- The seizure happens in water.
- The person is injured or pregnant.
- It is their first known seizure, or you do not know whether they have a seizure disorder.
- The person has diabetes and loses consciousness.
- A baby younger than six months has a seizure.
- The person is not returning to their usual state within five to ten minutes after the seizure stops.
- The person asks for emergency help, or their seizure action plan directs you to call.
Do not wait five minutes if another emergency sign is present. Tell the dispatcher what is happening and follow their instructions.
How to Help
During the seizure
01 · Stay & Time
Stay with the person.
Note when the seizure starts and stops. Speak calmly, give the person space and ask others to step back. Look for medical identification or a seizure action plan.
02 · Protect
Make the space safer.
Move nearby hazards away. If the person falls, cushion their head with something soft and flat. Remove glasses and loosen tight clothing around the neck. Avoid moving them unless they are in immediate danger.
03 · Position
Help keep the airway clear.
If the person is lying down and is not fully alert, gently turn them onto their side when it is safe to do so. Do not use force or hold them down.
04 · Guide
Help someone who is confused.
If the person is walking or wandering, stay nearby and gently guide them away from hazards such as traffic, stairs or sharp objects. Do not restrain them.
What not to do
- Do not restrain the person or try to stop their movements.
- Do not put objects or fingers in their mouth. A person cannot swallow their tongue.
- Do not give food, drinks or pills to swallow until they are fully alert and able to swallow safely.
Prescribed rescue medication is different from routine pills: give it only according to the person’s specific instructions and your training.
After the Seizure
Stay until they have recovered.
Check breathing and responsiveness.
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally after the seizure, call 911, begin CPR and use an AED if available. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
If they are breathing normally but are not fully alert, keep them on their side and continue to monitor them.
Offer calm reassurance.
Explain briefly what happened, protect their privacy and check for injury. Stay with them until they are alert and safe. Offer to contact someone they trust.
Get emergency help for the warning signs listed above, even if the seizure has stopped.
Individual Instructions
Follow the seizure action plan.
Some people have a healthcare-provider-approved plan explaining their usual seizures, prescribed rescue medication and when to call 911.
Use rescue medication only as prescribed and if you have been instructed how to give it. Do not improvise a dose or route. Rescue medication does not replace emergency care when it is needed.
Learn & Prepare
Resources to keep learning.
See different seizure types.
Explore our seizure education videos and learn how seizures can appear.
Ask about education.
Your local epilepsy agency can explain available seizure education and community resources.
Seizures & First Aid — Older Educational Booklet
This original 2011 publication remains available for reference. It uses older terminology, and some emergency advice differs from current guidance. Use the updated steps on this webpage and your individual seizure action plan for emergency preparation.
© Edmonton Epilepsy Association, 2011. Free Canada-wide distribution was supported by an unrestricted grant from UCB Canada Inc.
About this information: This webpage is subject to continuous review by Epilepsy Ontario to help keep the information current. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or first aid training. Consult your healthcare provider about your own care. For an emergency, call 911.
Further guidance:
London Health Sciences Centre ·
CDC seizure first aid ·
2024 AHA / American Red Cross first aid guidelines.
