Know how to respond to a seizure in emergency situations

Paddy McGeoghegan

Advocacy & Communications Manager, Epilepsy Ireland

It is incredibly important that everyone knows how to respond and what to do in the event of a person having a seizure.

According to recent awareness surveys commissioned by Epilepsy Ireland, there is a perception amongst the public that epilepsy is a rare condition. There are actually over 45,000 people living with epilepsy in Ireland, making it one of the most common neurological conditions in the country.  

You never know when you might need to respond to a person having a seizure. So, what do you do in the event of a person having a seizure? Just remember the three key words: Time, Safe, Stay.  

The ‘time’ response to a seizure 

The first thing you should do is TIME the seizure. This is because if a seizure goes over five minutes, an ambulance should be called. 

Often, after a seizure, a person with epilepsy will be confused and, in many cases, exhausted.

The ‘safe’ response to a seizure  

Keep the person SAFE during the seizure. If a person is having a convulsive seizure, cushion their head with something soft, if possible, and remove any harmful objects (eg. furniture from their vicinity). NEVER put anything in a person’s mouth or restrain them during a seizure.  

Be aware that there are also types of seizures where the person does not experience convulsions. Instead, they may ‘zone out’ or stare blankly, become confused or agitated and display behaviours like chewing, smacking their lips, fiddling with their clothes or wandering aimlessly. In this type of seizure, the person’s awareness of their surroundings is affected, and it is important to gently guide the person away from any danger. As with convulsive seizures, never restrict the person’s movements. 

The ‘stay’ response to a seizure 

During the seizure and after it passes, STAY with the person. Often, after a seizure, a person with epilepsy will be confused and, in many cases, exhausted. Make sure to stay with them until recovery is complete, explain what has happened and gently reassure them. The person may have experienced an injury if they have fallen. If this is the case, ensure normal first aid steps are taken.