First Aid for Seizures

A seizure may occur because of a disturbance in the electrical activity in the brain. This disturbance can be the result of a head injury, epilepsy, poisoning, electric shock, drug withdrawal, a brain tumor, a bite from a poisonous insect or snake, or a high fever (especially in young children).

Symptoms: Short cry; rigid muscles; jerky, twitching movements; temporary lack of breathing; eyes rolled upward; bluish color in the face and lips; drooling or foaming at the mouth; possible loss of bladder and bowel control; unresponsiveness; confusion and sleepiness following seizure

Emergency Treatment

  1. Ease victim to floor, and lay them on their side.

  2. Remove any objects that victim may strike, or move victim away from hazardous areas, but DO NOT interfere with movements or restrain victim.

  3. DO NOT try to open victim's mouth. DO NOT put fingers or objects in victim's mouth.

  4. Stay with victim until seizure ends.

  5. When seizure is over, keep victim lying on their side.

  6. Check breathing. If breathing stops, see rescue breathing.

  7. DO NOT give victim anything to eat or drink.

  8. If you do not know whether victim has a history of seizures, if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or if victim has more than one seizure, call for EMS. If you know victim has history of seizures and current seizure is not unusual, ceases within 5 minutes, and is not followed by additional seizures, transport victim to emergency room.

  9. If seizure is caused by high fever, sponge victim's body with luke­warm water before transporting. DO NOT place victim in water.
To learn more about first aid and emergency care, see:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.