First aid for seizures

Here we have images showing general measures to assist the person who is having a seizure. First stay calm and reassure other people. Track how long the seizure lasts Protect the person by helping them avoid hazard. Place something soft under the head. If the person is wearing glasses, remove them. Loosen any clothing that is tight fitting under the neck. With a generalized tonic-clonic seizure turn the person on one side to keep the airway clear. Time to seizure and wait for it to end. Understand that verbal instruction may not be obeyed. Finally, stay until the person is fully aware and help reorient them into their surroundings.

Call an ambulance if the seizure lasts more than five minutes, unless you know that the person’s seizures usually lasts more than five minutes. Remember, unless you are a primary caregiver who has been trained to use a special medication, or you have been shown how to use a special device, that there is nothing you can do to stop a seizure. It will run its own course. I would like to underline that there are several common responses to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure that may be extremely harmful to the person who is experiencing a seizure. The first thing is not to hold down or restrain the person. During a seizure the brain is sending instructions to various parts of the body.

Even if that part of the body is restrained, for instance an arm or a leg, it will still follow the instructions received from the brain. Don’t put anything in the person’s mouth. One of the most common myths is that you must put something in their mouths to prevent them to swallowing their tongues. In fact, this is one of the most harmful unnecessary responses to a tonic-clonic seizure. The person’s tongue is attached and cannot be swallowed. Any object placed in their mouth could do serious damage such as broken teeth or jaw. Even worse the object may block the person’s airway.

Don’t attempt to give persons antiseisure medication by mouth and do not give food or drink until the person is fully aware. Finally don’t keep the person on their back facing up throughout the convulsion. This may increase the risk that the person inhale gastric fluids and suffocate. Therefore, the person must be positioned on their side. The only thing that you can do is just soothe the patient by stroking him or her gently, very gently.