First aid for epileptic seizures
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'.
Everyone should know what to do when they see someone having a seizure.
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.
Calm, Cushion, Call
Our campaign, focusing on tonic clonic seizures, gives people three simple but key instructions to remember in an emergency: “Calm, Cushion, Call.”
The recovery position
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.
First aid for all seizures
How you can best help someone during a seizure depends on what type of seizure they have and how it affects them. On this page you'll find information on what the different types of seizures are and how to treat them.
Dental injuries
Although most people do not hurt themselves during a seizure, sometimes seizures can cause injuries.
Download our first aid poster
This poster tells you what to do if someone has a seizure.
First Aid quick guide
Although seizures can be frightening to see, they are not usually a medical emergency. Usually, once the seizure stops, the person recovers and their breathing goes back to normal.
What to record about a seizure
Everyone is individual and people react in different ways to their seizures and in how they recover. Some people cannot remember what happened to them during a seizure, some like to be talked to during their seizures and as they recover, and some need to sleep afterwards.
What do I need to know about someone's epilepsy?
You may be able to help someone with epilepsy if you know about their seizures. Here are some questions to help you.
Status epilepticus
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’.
Calling 999 from a smartphone
If you need to make a call to the emergency services (999 in the UK) on an Android or iPhone device, there are ways to automatically send your GPS location to the emergency services at the same time.
Want to know more?
Order or download our first aid leaflet:
For printed copies, please call our Helpline on 01494 601 400. Please note - we require a purchase order for bulk orders.
Information updated: December 2021