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One of the most difficult things if you see someone having a seizure is that there is little you can, or should do.
If you witness someone having a seizure it is important to stay calm and protect them
- As soon as possible check to see if the person is wearing or carrying information that describes what to do in case of an emergency. They may be wearing a bracelet or carrying a card in their pocket or wallet/purse
- Follow any instructions that you may find
- Try to prevent physical injury from things such as sharp edges, hot pipes or traffic
- If possible, put something soft under their head to protect it from banging
- DO NOT - restrain their movements, never put anything (especially not your fingers) in their mouth
- DO - protect the airway; loosen tight clothes around the neck; wipe away excess saliva; stay with them until the seizure stops; let the seizure run its course
- When the jerking has stopped, roll them onto their side
- If possible take a note of the time that the seizure started and stopped
- Only call an ambulance if the person has hurt themselves or you are concerned about their breathing or the seizure lasts more than five minutes
- It is a good idea to engage a couple of members of the public to help to keep onlookers away, direct traffic as necessary or call for an ambulance if needed
The most important thing you can do is to reassure the person having the seizure
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