What to Do If Someone Is Having a Seizure?

What to Do If Someone Is Having a Seizure?

What is a seizure?
A seizure is a sudden and uncontrollable electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in levels of consciousness, behavior, movements or feelings.

How do I identify a seizure?
The symptoms of a seizure can vary between mild to severe intensity. The signs include a staring spell, temporary confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements of arms or legs, loss of consciousness, cognitive and emotional functions like deja vu, fear or anxiety.

What are the initial precautions you should take as a witness?

• Keep other people out of the way and ensure a good amount of space around the patient.
• Clear any hard or sharp objects that might injure the patient.
• Do not try to stop their movements forcibly.
• Place the patient on their side to keep their airway clear. Resting on the side is a good recovery position.
• Loosen any tight clothing around their neck: such as their scarf or tie to aid with breathing.
• Cushion their head if they’re on the ground.
• Record the time of the seizure and immediately call the ambulance if it exceeds five minutes.
• Do not put anything in their mouth, on the off chance that they might bite you or hurt themselves.

 

When do I contact a doctor?
Call a doctor if the patient:

• Has never had a seizure before.
• Has a high fever.
• Has a second seizure following immediately.
• Can’t breathe or gain consciousness long after the seizure has stopped.
• Is pregnant.
• Has diabetes.
• Has injured themselves during the seizure.
• Experiences heat exhaustion.

 
1) Is experiencing a seizure for more than five minutes.

If the person has epilepsy, it’s not necessary to go to the hospital every time. However, make sure their doctor knows about the seizure.

What information should I notify the doctor about?
The following information might be relevant to the doctor:

• The patient’s activity before the seizure.
• If any part of the patient’s body twitched, jerked, or stiffened.
• If the patient experienced a change in colour i.e.: if they became flushed, pale or blue.
• Any change in the patient’s breathing.
• If the seizure was sudden

 
What complications can the patient face?

• Falling and breaking a bone.
• Drowning in case they’re in the bath or the pool.
• Car accidents if they’re driving.
• Emotional side effects like anxiety or depression due to medication or frustration.
• Endangered health of the baby, if the patient is pregnant.

It can be scary to witness a seizure but it’s important that you don’t panic for both, yourself and the patient. Any generalized seizure can be dangerous because the person is unaware of their surroundings and can’t protect themselves from harm. Be sure to take the necessary precautions, gently guide their way away from threats and be there for the patient as a support.

Sancheti Hospital, Pune, is equipped with the best doctors and surgeons, and state of the art machinery to treat diseases. The hospital also treats cases of epilepsy via methodological neuro-surgeries or a well-structured treatment plan. Sancheti Hospital, Pune is a truly reliable place to get yourself or your loved ones treated for epilepsy.