Seizure First Aid: Essential Steps to Take During a Seizure

Seizures are probably more common than you think. The CDC says about 10% of Americans will have at least one during their lifetime. If you know how to give the proper seizure first aid, you might be able to help someone having a seizure.

What Does a Seizure Look Like?

There are many types of seizures, but what most people think of is the tonic-clonic seizure. Formerly known as grand mal seizures, tonic-clonic seizures are classified as generalized-onset seizures. That's because they affect both sides of the brain at the same time. They can be scary to watch, and someone who has one rarely knows or remembers what's happening. The seizing usually goes through a few phases.

The tonic (which means stiffening) phase starts first. During this:

1. The person seems to "check out."
2. Their muscles clench and become rigid.
3. They're likely to lose consciousness and fall.
4. They also might bite their tongue or cheek, causing bleeding.

The clonic (which means rhythmical jerking) comes next. In this phase:

1. Their arms and maybe legs start to jerk and bend, relaxing at their elbows, hips, and knees, slowing and stopping after a few minutes.
2. They may have trouble breathing, which can make their face look a bit blue.
3. They might also lose control of their bladder or bowels.
4. They'll slowly return to consciousness and become more aware after about one to three minutes.

Generalized-onset seizures can be dangerous because the person is unaware of their surroundings and can't protect themselves from harm. The uncontrolled thrashing raises their chances of getting hurt.

Focal seizures are different; they start in one area on one side of the brain, so they may be less intense and usually last no more than a minute or two.

There are two types of focal seizures:

• Focal onset aware seizures: The person doesn't lose their awareness.
• Focal impaired awareness seizures: The person does lose their awareness.

Seizure First Aid: What Can You Do?

If you have a family member or friend who has seizures, knowing basic seizure first aid could save their life in a medical emergency. Your goal during seizure first aid is just to keep the person safe and call for help if needed. You can remember how to give seizure first aid with the 3 S's of seizures: STAY, SAFE, and SIDE.