First aid for all seizures
Epileptic seizures can be divided into two main types: focal seizures and generalised seizures. Seizures can vary from one person to another and how people are affected and how they recover after seizures varies. How you can best help someone during a seizure depends on what type of seizure they have and how it affects them.
Focal aware seizures (previously simple partial seizures)
- as the person might feel strange or be upset, reassuring them might be helpful.
Focal impaired awareness seizures (previously complex partial seizures)
- do not restrain the person as this may upset or confuse them
- gently guide them away from any danger, for example from walking into the road
- speak gently and calmly as they may be confused. If you speak loudly or grab them they might not understand and get upset or respond aggressively.
After the seizure:
- they may feel tired and want to sleep. It might be helpful to remind them where they are.
- stay with them until they recover and can safely return to what they had been doing before. Some people recover quickly, but others may take longer to feel back to normal again.
Focal to bilateral tonic clonic seizures (previously secondarily generalised seizures)
Sometimes a focal seizure spreads to affect both sides of the brain. This is called a focal to bilateral tonic clonic seizure. Some people call the focal seizure an ‘aura’ or ‘warning’, as it warns them that a tonic clonic seizure may follow.
- if you or the person is aware of a warning, they may need help to get to a safe place before the tonic clonic seizure happens.
- stay with the person and gently guide them away from any danger.
Tonic and atonic seizures
- reassuring them may be helpful
- if they are injured, they may need medical help.
Myoclonic means 'muscle jerk', and these seizures involve jerking of a limb or part of a limb. They often happen shortly after waking up, are brief, and can happen in clusters (many happening close together in time).
How to help:
- you don't need to do anything to help during the seizure other than make sure that the person has not hurt themselves.
Tonic clonic and clonic seizures
How to help during the seizure:
- try to stay calm
- check the time to see how long the seizure lasts (because there may be a risk of status epilepticus - see below)
- only move the person if they are in a dangerous place, for example in the road. Instead, move any objects (such as furniture) away from them so that they don't hurt themselves
- put something soft (such as a jumper) under their head, or cup their head in your hands, to stop it hitting the ground
- do not hold them down - allow the seizure to happen
- do not put anything in their mouth - they will not swallow their tongue
- try to stop other people crowding around.
How to help once the shaking stops:
- gently roll them on to their side into the recovery position
- if their breathing sounds difficult or noisy, gently open their mouth to check that nothing is blocking their airway
- wipe away any spit from their mouth
- try to minimise any embarrassment. If they have wet themselves, deal with this as privately as possible (for example, put a coat over them).
- stay with them until they have fully recovered. They may need some gentle reassurance.
Some people recover quickly from a tonic clonic seizure but often they will be very tired, want to sleep and may not feel back to normal for several hours or sometimes days.
Most people's seizures will stop on their own and the person will not need any medical help. However, if you are not sure whether someone is recovering from a seizure, they have hurt themselves during the seizure, or you have any concerns about them, you might want to think about when to call for an ambulance.
Some people might injure themselves during a seizure. Dental injuries can be common.
A person's seizures usually last the same length of time each time they happen, and stop by themselves. However, sometimes seizures do not stop, or one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between. If this goes on for 5 minutes or more, it is called status epilepticus, or 'status'.
Status is not common, but can happen in any type of seizure and the person may need to see a doctor.
Status in a tonic clonic seizure is a medical emergency and the person will need urgent medical help. It is important to call for an ambulance if the seizure goes on for more than 5 minutes. See when to dial 999.
Some people are prescribed emergency medication, either buccal midazolam or rectal diazepam, to stop their seizures. Carers need training in giving emergency medication. It is important for the person to have an individualised written protocol (plan) about when to give it, for the carer to follow.
More information about our emergency medication training.
How else can I help?
Checking the length of a seizure is essential in avoiding status (see above). Another important reason to check the time and note the length of a seizure is so that you can pass this information on afterwards to the person who has had the seizure. Many people keep a record of their seizures, and a description of the seizure and how long it lasted can be vital information for them to record, and pass on to their specialist.
Information produced: August 2
In an atonic seizure (or 'drop attack') the person’s muscles suddenly relax and they become floppy. If they are standing they often fall, usually forwards, and may injure the front of their head or face. Like tonic seizures, atonic seizures tend to be brief and happen without warning. With both tonic and atonic seizures people usually recover quickly, apart from possible injuries.
These are the seizures that most people think of as epilepsy. the person becomes unconscious their body goes stiff and if they are standing up they usually fall backwards. they jerk and shake as their muscles relax and tighten rhythmically.
In focal aware seizures (FAS), previously called simple partial seizures, the person is conscious (aware and alert) and will usually know that something is happening and will remember the seizure afterwards.
Focal impaired awareness seizures (FIAS) affect a bigger part of one hemisphere (side) of the brain than focal aware seizures. This seizure was previously called complex partial seizures.
Absence seizures are more common in children than adults and can happen very frequently. During an absence a person becomes unconscious for a short time. They may look blank and stare, or their eyelids might flutter. They will not respond to what is happening around them. If they are walking they may carry on walking but will not be aware of what they are doing.
Myoclonic means ‘muscle jerk’. Muscle jerks are not always due to epilepsy (for example, some people have them as they fall asleep). Myoclonic seizures are brief but can happen in clusters (many happening close together in time) and often happen shortly after waking.
Our step-by-step guide to the recovery position shows you how to help someone recover after a tonic clonic seizure. These steps should be followed once the shaking has stopped.
A selection of first aid information for seizures including how to put someone into the recovery position and what to do if someone is in 'status'.
Although most people do not hurt themselves during a seizure, sometimes seizures can cause injuries.