Here’s what to do if someone is having a seizure

Epilepsy Ireland is encouraging the public to learn what to do if someone they know is having a seizure.

People are always asking Epilepsy Ireland what a person should do in the event of someone having a seizure. To help raise vital awareness, they have launched the Time, Safe, Stay campaign.

“For our 2023 campaign, we want to give Time, Safe, Stay the focus it needs to really become part of the public consciousness. We want the question “What should you do to help when you see someone having a seizure?” to be automatically answered with ‘Time, Safe, Stay’, and for everyone to understand the meaning of these 3 words.

…and an important answer given in our #NewProfilePic! #EpilepsyDay pic.twitter.com/ZnwRkECo7M

— Epilepsy Ireland (@epilepsyireland) February 10, 2023

Seizure first aid is something we should all be familiar with. There are over 45,000 people living with epilepsy in Ireland so knowing how to help someone is key.

Epilepsy Ireland broke down their new motto below;

TIME
The first thing you should do is TIME the seizure. This is because if a seizure goes over 5 minutes, an ambulance should be called.

SAFE
Keep the person SAFE during the seizure. If a person is having a convulsive seizure, cushion their head with something soft if possible and remove any harmful objects, e.g., furniture from their vicinity. NEVER put anything in a person’s mouth or restrain them during a seizure.

Be aware that there are also types of seizures where the person does not experience convulsions. Instead, they may “zone out” or stare blankly, become confused or agitated, display behaviours like chewing, smacking their lips, fiddling with their clothes, or wandering aimlessly. In this type of seizure, the person’s awareness of their surroundings is affected, and it is important to gently guide the person away from any danger. As with convulsive seizures, never restrict the person’s movements.

STAY
During and after it passes, STAY with the person. Often after a seizure, a person with epilepsy will be confused and, in many cases, exhausted. Make sure to stay with them until recovery is complete, explain what has happened and gently reassure them. The person may have experienced an injury if they have fallen, and if this is the case, ensure normal first aid steps are taken.

Remember;

Time the Seizure

Keep them Safe

Stay with Them

Click here for more information and for ways to support Epilepsy Ireland.