Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with seizure wont stop, 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 has been seizing continuously for more than 5 minutes, or has one seizure after another without waking up.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112 now. Seizure over 5 minutes. Protect head. CPR if not breathing.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Continuous shaking or stiffness for more than 5 minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Second seizure starts before the person fully wakes from the first.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person is blue, not breathing, or foaming at the mouth with choking sounds.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency. The brain and body are under extreme stress and the person can suffer permanent harm.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 immediately. Put phone on speaker.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell them: "Seizure will not stop. Started at [time]. Person is [age]."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep protecting the head. Do NOT restrain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If possible, gently roll onto their side to help breathing.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You cannot stop a prolonged seizure with home remedies. Emergency medication is needed — call 112 immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Prolonged seizure — not stopping. Need ambulance with emergency medication."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell them if the person is known epileptic and what medications they take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — This is always a life-threatening emergency requiring hospital treatment.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT wait to see if it stops on its own after 5 minutes — call 112 now.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put anything in their mouth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give oral medications unless specifically trained and directed by emergency services.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All seizures stop within a minute so waiting is fine
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Seizures lasting over 5 minutes rarely stop without emergency medication. Brain damage risk increases with duration.
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.
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.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If you know they have rescue medication (e.g., rectal diazepam) and have been trained — use it as instructed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If breathing stops after convulsions — start chest compressions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delayed 112 call while waiting for seizure to end on its own.