Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with febrile seizure, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A young child with fever is having a seizure — shaking, stiff, or staring blankly and not responding.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Side position. Protect head. Nothing in mouth. Call 112 if over 5 minutes.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Child between 6 months and 5 years with fever who suddenly stiffens or shakes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Eyes rolling, jerking arms and legs, or going limp and unresponsive.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Staring blankly and not responding for more than 15 seconds (absence seizure).
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Febrile seizures happen when a child's body temperature rises quickly, usually from infection. They are frightening but often stop on their own.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Even though febrile seizures are common, every one needs medical evaluation afterward.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay the child on the floor on their side — not on a bed or couch where they could fall.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Note the time. Remove nearby hard toys and furniture.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put anything in the child's mouth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT hold the child down or try to stop the shaking.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not restrain the child. Do not put anything in their mouth. Do not try to lower fever during the seizure with cold baths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 if seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, the child turns blue, has trouble breathing, or this is their first seizure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Child [age] having febrile seizure. Started at [time]. Fever present."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All febrile seizures need medical evaluation to find the cause of fever and rule out serious infection.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put the child in a cold bath to bring down fever during a seizure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put fingers or objects in the mouth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume it is harmless because it stopped — the child needs a doctor.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Febrile seizures cause brain damage
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Simple febrile seizures usually do not cause lasting harm. The underlying infection still needs treatment.
Other scenarios in the same family.
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.
Active seizure
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is shaking uncontrollably, stiff, or having convulsions and is not responding to you.
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 give fever medicine or water during the seizure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — When it stops — keep on their side, check breathing, stay with them until fully awake.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Parents either panic excessively or skip medical care thinking it is harmless.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should force fever medicine during the seizure
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Never give anything by mouth during a seizure — choking risk. Treat fever after the child is awake.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Aspiration and choking from liquid or pills given during active seizure.