First Aid procedures: epileptic seizure

What are they?

Epileptic seizures are due to recurrent, major disturbances of brain activity. Just before a seizure the person affected may have a brief warning period with, for example, a strange feeling, or a particular smell or taste.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a minor epileptic fit may include sudden blankness, twitching limbs and strange noises, for example, smacking of lips.

A major fit may involve sudden loss of consciousness, absence of breathing, convulsive movements, such as jaw clenches, and the body becoming rigid.

First aid aims

• Treat casualty for unconsciousness
• Protect casualty while unconscious
• Arrange for medical help, if necessary

Actions

• If possible, ease the person’s fall but do not put yourself at risk.
• Protect the person from injury by clearing the space around them and placing something soft under their head.
• Allow seizure to run its course and keep monitoring the casualty
• Once seizure is over, place casualty in recovery position
• Keep reassuring casualty and monitor their condition
• Call an ambulance if casualty is unconscious for more than ten minutes, the seizure continues for more than five minutes, they have repeated seizures, it's their first seizure, or if they're not aware of any reason for the seizure
• If in a public place maintain the person’s dignity for example cover them with a blanket, encourage onlookers to move away.

The British Red Cross last medically reviewed this article in May 2011.