Helping the person

What can you do for the person having a seizure? Here are suggestions from the Epilepsy Foundation of America:

• Ease the person to the ground or flat surface and put something soft under their head. Clear the area of any hard or sharp objects.
• Turn the person on one side to prevent choking and keep the airway clear. Loosen anything around the neck that might hinder breathing.
• Don't try to hold down the person to prevent jerking movements. This could injure the person.
• Don't force anything into the person's mouth. Contrary to popular myth, seizures do not cause people to swallow their tongues.
• Keep the person out of harm's way, guiding them away from possible danger such as a busy street or steep stairs.
• Stay with the person until full awareness returns and offer help in returning home or to some other destination.

Calling for help

You should call for medical assistance if:

• Convulsive shaking and jerking lasts longer than five minutes, or starts again shortly after stopping
• Breathing is difficult or there is unusual pain in the chest or other body area
• The person having the seizure seems ill, injured, or appears to be pregnant

If you are living with a person who has a seizure disorder, ask the doctor about how you should respond to the particular seizures and when to call for medical help.