How to help if you see someone having a tonic-clonic seizure

Do:

• Protect them from injury (remove harmful objects from nearby)
• Cushion their head
• Look for an epilepsy identity card or identity jewellery – it may give you information about their seizures and what to do
• Time how long the jerking lasts
• Aid breathing by gently placing them in the recovery position once the jerking has stopped  
• Stay with the them until they are fully recovered
• Be calmly reassuring

Don’t:

• Restrain their movements
• Put anything in their mouth
• Try to move them unless they are in danger
• Give them anything to eat or drink until they are fully recovered
• Attempt to bring them round

Call for an ambulance if:

• You know it is their first seizure or
• The jerking continues for more than five minutes or
• They have one tonic-clonic seizure after another without regaining responsiveness between seizures or
• They are injured during the seizure or
• You believe they need urgent medical attention