Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with active seizure, use emergency mode.
Do this nowThis content is in Draft and has not been professionally reviewed. It is provided for preview while expert review is in progress.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is shaking uncontrollably, stiff, or having convulsions and is not responding to you.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Clear space. Protect head. Do not hold down. Time it. Call 112 if long.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden collapse with whole-body shaking or stiffness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Eyes rolled back, jaw clenched, not responding to voice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Loss of bladder or bowel control.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blue lips or face during the seizure — this is an emergency.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. The person cannot control their movements and may not hear you.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most seizures stop on their own within 1-2 minutes. Your job is to keep them safe until it passes.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay calm. Note the time the seizure started.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Clear hard objects, furniture, and hot items from around them.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Place something soft (jacket, folded cloth) under their head.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT hold them down or try to stop the shaking.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not restrain the person or put anything in their mouth. Focus on safety and timing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 if: seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, they have another seizure, they are injured, pregnant, or diabetic, or this is their first seizure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Person having a seizure. Started at [time]. Still going / has stopped."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 immediately if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, they do not wake up, or they have trouble breathing after.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put anything in their mouth — they cannot swallow their tongue, and you will injure them or yourself.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT hold them down or restrain their arms and legs.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give water, food, or medicine until they are fully awake.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT move them unless they are in immediate danger (fire, traffic, water).
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You must put something in their mouth to stop them swallowing their tongue
Other scenarios in the same family.
Febrile seizure
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A young child with fever is having a seizure — shaking, stiff, or staring blankly and not responding.
Meningitis signs
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone has fever with severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, rash that does not fade when pressed, or extreme sensitivity to light.
Sudden paralysis
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has suddenly lost strength on one side — drooping face, weak arm or leg, or cannot move one side of the body.
Seizure wont stop
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has been seizing continuously for more than 5 minutes, or has one seizure after another without waking up.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put anything in their mouth — no fingers, spoons, or objects.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Loosen tight clothing around the neck if easy to do safely.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — When shaking stops — roll them onto their side (recovery position). Check breathing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — It is physically impossible to swallow your tongue. Putting objects in the mouth breaks teeth and injures fingers.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Broken teeth, choking on inserted objects, and bitten fingers.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should hold a person down during a seizure
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Restraining causes injury to both of you. Clear the area and let the seizure run its course.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Dislocated shoulders, broken bones, and muscle tears from forced restraint.