How to Help Someone Having an Epileptic Seizure

It's scary to see someone having a seizure. Although the person is usually unconscious during a generalized seizure, there are many ways you can offer assistance. Your physical and psychological support can make a world of difference.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Handkerchiefs
• Pillows

1. Ease the person to the floor, if you see that she is about to have a seizure. She could get hurt if she falls.

2. Insert a handkerchief between her teeth if she knows she's going to have a seizure. It will help her avoid biting her tongue.

3. Loosen constrictive clothing (unless the seizure has come on and the person is jerking too much).

4. Protect the head with a pillow, or any soft object, if possible. During a grand mal seizure, the head has a tendency to strike the floor repeatedly.

5. Shoo away onlookers and close the door to provide privacy.

6. Move furniture out of the way.

7. Avoid trying to restrain the person having a seizure. You will never be strong enough to fight against the powerful seizing muscles, but you may get hurt.

8. Make sure not to jam anything between the seizing person's clenched teeth. If her jaw is clenched, you could break her teeth or injure her lips.

9. Turn her onto her side if you can, to prevent choking or aspiration of vomit that may occur during seizure.

10. Reorient the person after she begins to regain consciousness following her seizure. Sometimes awareness is regained soon after a seizure, sometimes it can take several minutes or more.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[AndrewHannon]

on 12/19/2006 Nice to see this article because "grand mal" siezures can be shocking for people without experience of epilepsy. The simplest remedies are to...
1. Remove any immediate danger (Or expensive vases!)
2. Cushioning the head is quite important because muscle spasms often lead to victims hitting their head on the floor repetitively.
3. DO NOT try to restrain the person as this could cause injury to both you and them. The muscle spasms will happen no matter how hard you try.
4. Monitor the person's condition until they regain conciousness.
5. Once the person regains conciousness, try to be as relaxed and comforting as possible. They will usually be disoriented and need some "quiet time" to collect themselves. Tea and a soft, sweet snack will usually do the trick.

(For a number of people, there may be some risk of tongue biting. However, unless this risk is observed or is known to exist for a particular person, it is best to avoid interfering with the person's mouth/airway. As you can imagine, forcing something into a person's mouth while they are suffering a siezure could exacerbate the situation or cause injury).

on 8/8/2006 My girlfriend has grand mal seizures and I found that dabbing her forehead with a damp cool cloth will help. She says she has these seizures mainly when she is too hot or if she hasn't eaten. So make sure they eat regularly and that if they are lightheaded or really hot, that they take a break and cool down.

on 11/22/2005 I have complex partial seizures. When they called an ambulance, the paramedics talked to me as if I could control it. Do not do this, under any circumstance. If the person is trembling or complaining of cold, gently drape him or her with a blanket, but make sure it does not touch the face or cover the mouth. If the person is hyperventilating, use a paper sack to control the breathing. Watch closely for unconsciousness. This is the body's way of taking over, and it may last no more than a few minutes. If the person is wearing a hair clip, remove it or ask them to remove it. This prevents injury due to the clip being bashed against the person's head. If they are seizing severely, such as a jack knife, do not restrain them. Reassure them as best as possible.

on 11/22/2005 My boyfriend has seizures occasionally. They are grand mal, and I have found that the best way to help ease someone out of such a seizure is to apply a wet cloth to the forehead and offer some compassion and touching. I will rub his forehead with a wet cold cloth, and rub his arms and legs to assure him that no one is going to hurt him. Most epileptics are frightened when they first come out. His mom and dad called an ambulance the one time they saw it, and they scared him by forcing him to the ground, which is not right. Just remember, the victim is more scared than anyone, and they will have NO recollection of the events that happened.

on 11/22/2005 People who have staring spells for seizures just need to be left alone until they come to. Then the adult or the person in charge can take over from there.