If you witness someone close to you, a colleague or even a complete stranger having a seizure, it may leave you feeling powerless if you don’t know how to help them.

Because it’s Epilepsy Awareness Month in March, now is a good time to learn more about this condition and what you can do to help. The month aims to raise awareness of epilepsy, bust myths and encourage others to support people living with epilepsy.

In this article, we’ll find out more about epilepsy and talk you through the steps to help someone having a seizure.

Facts about epilepsy

Around 250,000 Australians are living with epilepsy. It’s a long-term neurological condition where people have seizures — episodes where they lose consciousness and experience jerking movements and stiffening of the limbs, repeated movements and other symptoms.

Most seizures last up to three minutes and are caused by disruption to the electrical activity in the brain.

Epilepsy can affect people of any age and gender, though it’s more likely to be diagnosed in childhood or in older age.

For around half the people with epilepsy, its cause is never known. For others, epilepsy may be caused by:

  • Head injury
  • Stroke
  • Brain infection
  • Brain tumour
  • Alcohol or drug misuse
  • High or low blood sugar

Treatment for epilepsy includes medication that can stop seizures from happening and avoiding triggers such as lack of sleep, flashing lights or stress.

Warning signs and symptoms of seizures

Before we progress to steps to help someone having a seizure, let’s look at warning signs and epilepsy symptoms related to seizures.

Sometimes, a person with epilepsy will have a feeling that a seizure is on the way. They may experience sensations such as:

  • Unusual smells
  • A feeling of déjà-vu
  • Tingling
  • Visual disturbances

The type of seizure most often associated with epilepsy is “tonic-clonic”. Symptoms include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Stiffening of the body
  • Jerking muscles
  • Tongue-biting
  • Increased saliva
  • Eyes rolling upwards or blinking
  • Shaking
  • Repetitive movements
  • Loss of bladder control

Steps to help someone having a seizure

If you see someone having a seizure:

  • Stay with them.
  • Time the seizure. Most will resolve after three minutes.
  • Do what you can to protect them from injuring themselves.
  • If the person has food, liquid or vomit in their mouth, roll them on their side.
  • You should also roll them on their side once the seizure finishes.
  • Monitor their breathing.
  • Stay by their side while they recover.

Be sure not to:

  • Put anything in their mouth
  • Restrain them
  • Move them unnecessarily

Because most seizures resolve by themselves and the person experiencing a seizure slowly returns to their normal state, you don’t always need to call an ambulance.

However, you should dial triple zero (000) for an ambulance if:

  • You are not sure whether they have recovered.
  • They are injured.
  • There is food, liquid or vomit in their mouth in case they have inhaled it.
  • The seizure took place in water.
  • The person who had the seizure has breathing difficulties afterwards.
  • They have a second seizure soon after.
  • The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
  • The person is unresponsive for more than five minutes after the seizure finishes.

After a seizure

After a seizure, the patient will feel weak and tired and will want to rest. Don’t leave them alone until:

  • They can communicate.
  • They can respond to basic questions about who they are and what happened.
  • They are breathing normally.
  • You are able to wake them up if they fall asleep.

What else can I do if a loved one or colleague has epilepsy?

This article touches on the basics of keeping someone safe when they are having a seizure.

For more in-depth first aid training, find a recognised course that covers all aspects of first aid, including assisting someone having a seizure.

Unfortunately, it is common for people with epilepsy to sustain injuries when they have a seizure — for instance, if they fall to the floor. Keep a first aid kit for the home or workplace handy if a loved one or colleague may have a seizure so that you can treat minor injuries instantly. Ensure that it is kept stocked up, too, so you never run out of first aid supplies.

Browse our first aid kit and supplies collection

Knowing the facts about epilepsy gives you the confidence to help when someone is having a seizure. We hope that now you’ve read our guide, you feel prepared to help should the need arise.

Being prepared also means having first aid supplies to hand so that you can deal with any injuries sustained while your loved one, friend or colleague has a seizure.

Know that you can count on MediBC’s extensive range of first aid kits and supplies to cover all your needs. Browse our collection and order online for fast delivery throughout Australia.