Seizures
QUICK ANSWER · START HERE
Keep the person away from injury, time the seizure and do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Seek urgent help for a first seizure, one lasting over 5 minutes, repeated seizures without recovery, injury or breathing difficulty.
Trusted references.
Published references provide deeper context. The practical steps are below; outside references need a connection.
Act on immediate danger. Seek qualified help when reachable and safe, but do not make your first protective step depend on a response. This page is general guidance, not a live alert.
Do now.
- 01
Make space
Move dangerous objects away. Protect the head gently if possible, without holding the person down.
- 02
Time and observe
Note the start and stop times and whether there are repeated seizures. Ask someone to contact help when urgent criteria apply.
- 03
Protect breathing afterward
When safe, position on their side if breathing but not fully awake. Stay with them and monitor responsiveness.
- 04
Act if normal breathing stops
If unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin CPR and use an AED. Do not assume abnormal breathing is simply a normal recovery.
PLAN AROUND WHAT YOU HAVE
If help is unavailable.
Continue protecting from hazards and observing breathing while a helper seeks medical access. Use prescribed rescue medicine only under the existing care plan and appropriate training. If urgent criteria apply, keep seeking care rather than leaving the person alone to recover.
People & practical needs.
Reduce noise and spectators and give the person privacy. Afterward, speak calmly and explain what happened. Assign dependents to another adult and prepare the care plan, medication list and seizure timeline for a trusted receiving clinician.
Keep essentials within reach
Keep the action checklist and written contact details accessible. Use the equipment named in this guide only when available and appropriate. Assign someone to check access, batteries and expiry dates before an incident; retrieving a kit must not delay the immediate protective action.
Next steps.
Seek urgent help for seizures in water, during pregnancy, in a baby under 6 months or without return to baseline within 5-10 minutes. A known condition does not remove new warning signs.
An established epilepsy plan exists
Follow the person’s prescribed plan and note medicine times. New or unusually prolonged symptoms still need assessment.
In a hazardous location
Move only as needed to escape immediate danger. Do not create a second casualty by entering water, traffic or electrical hazards.
Questions in the field.
Can they swallow their tongue?
No. Putting an object in the mouth can cause choking, dental injury or a bite injury to the helper.
Watch for.
Never force something into the mouth, give food or drink before fully alert, or restrain movements.
Sources & context.
First-aid summary based on U.S. references. Use the local emergency number; this is not a diagnosis or a substitute for hands-on training.
Osprey Zero combines source-based protective guidance with practical household planning. References provide context, not a promise of assistance. Some standards are U.S.-based; local risks, laws and services differ.
Content updated 2026-10-02. Sources checked 2026-10-02. Next editorial review due 2027-01-02. First-aid summaries support immediate response and training; they have not received independent clinical review.