Guidelines for People Who Witness a Seizure

When you see someone have a seizure, it can be quite frightening. This is set up to help you understand the process, and understand how to help the person that might be engaged in a seizure.

Things to look for: Sudden loss of consciousness, falling, involuntary crying out, muscle stiffness, and temporary loss of ability to breathe. There may also be muscle spasms and a "foamy" mouth. This is the most widely recognized form of a seizure, called a tonic-clonic (formerly called "grand mal") There are several different types of seizures, some not so noticeable. If you see anything out of the ordinary for a particular person, stay alert and pay close attention!

1.Don't Panic! Most seizures last between 1-3 minutes. You won't be able to properly help a person if you are in a panic mode!

2.Help Protect from Injury. Try to cushion the person's fall. Help the person to a lying position, preferably on his/her side to keep their airway open. Change a person's position by pulling on the trunk of their body, not their arms or legs, to avoid dislocations. Remove eyeglasses if applicable. Loosen tight clothing and try to place something soft like a pillow or a rolled up piece of clothing under the person's head. Remove furniture or any other obstacle from the immediate area if possible.

3.Do Not Try to Restrain Movement! The seizure will run its course. Attempts to restrain movement might not only hurt yourself, but the person having the seizure.

4.Remain with the person. Don't leave to get help. Your presence may be necessary. It will be very assuring when the person awakens.

5.NEVER force anything into the person's mouth! This is an old myth! Attempting to open a person's mouth may cause more injury than the seizure itself. The jaws are firmly closed and could possibly cause serious injury to your fingers, or the person's tongue!

6.Help Breathing. If the person is lying on his/her back, turn the person to their side after the seizure has stopped. This will allow the tongue to return to its normal position, if it has fallen back and blocked breathing. It will also let built up saliva to drain from the mouth. Do not attempt to clear a person's airway, breathing in most cases, will return on it's own.

7.Do not encourage activity. Do not try to make the person swallow anything after the seizure, such as a drink or food. There is a possibility of choking. Don't rush the person into a standing or walking position while the post-seizure confusion remains. The person will eventually be able to get up on his/her own with assistance.

If seizure is continuing to last without signs of stopping, it is imperative to call 911 and get emergency personnel to treat the person. Prolonged seizures can cause brain damage and in some minute cases, even death. Keep an eye on the clock and remember to stay as calm as you can. More often than not, people having a seizure will recover on their own and will experience confusion after and you being there will be very reassuring to them as they "wake up."