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First aid for seizures

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

High fever, head injuries, the use of some medications, and some diseases such as epilepsy can cause seizures, which are symptoms of a brain problem that occurs due to sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Most attacks last between 30 seconds and 2 minutes and do not cause significant long-term damage. However, there may be seizures that occur when these episodes last more than five minutes and several appearances simultaneously without the person waking up between them.

There are two types of seizures: focal, which occur in a single part of the brain, and general, which occur throughout the brain area. Seeing a person convulse is one of the most distressing scenarios that can be experienced because we usually do not know what to do or how to stop the seizure so that the person can regain stability. Acting correctly in the event of an attack can save a person’s life and avoid complications; for this reason, in this FastlyHealarticle, you will learn about first aid for seizures.

First aid for seizures

If a person begins to seize in your presence, the most important thing is that you remain calm to act immediately and effectively, focused on preventing this person from suffering significant complications during the seizure. In general, when a person is going to take it, we can notice it moments before the episode begins; at that moment, follow the following steps and, if the person has epilepsy, have the medication prescribed by your treating doctor on hand.

  1. Immediately lay the person down on the floor.
  2. Let the person’s headrest on the floor as well.
  3. Loosen the clothing so the person can breathe easily.
  4. Turn the body of the person who is convulsing on its side. This will be enough to prevent the person is vomiting; this substance circulates to the lungs.
  5. Lay your head on a pillow or a towel or jacket to give it a proper rest.
  6. Remove any objects that can interfere with breathing, such as ties, glasses, etc.
  7. Measure how long the seizure lasts.
  8. If the seizure lasts five minutes, call 911 immediately.

What to do after a seizure

  1. Accompany the person for the seizure duration, and they are conscious.
  2. When the seizure is over, help the person sit up and sit in a cool, comfortable place. Straightforwardly tell him what happened since he will not remember anything.
  3. Ask the person if they have had a seizure before and if so, ask them to tell you what the procedure is to follow or check if they have any bracelet with medical indications. Generally, people with seizures have a prescription medication that they must take to prevent a new attack.
  4. Offer calm and serenity to the person.
  5. If the seizure lasts more than five minutes, the person must be seen by a medical specialist so that through an electroencephalogram, he evaluates brain activity and defines where the attack has occurred and what damage it has caused.

What NOT to do during a seizure

To regain the stability of the person, it is necessary to let the seizure pass correctly, therefore:

  • Don’t try to stop the person’s body movement who is having a seizure.
  • Contrary to what many people believe, please do not put any object in the mouth of the person who has convulsions, as it can cause a significant injury to the jaw or teeth. During a seizure, it is impossible to swallow your tongue.
  • You don’t need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The seizure is a temporary event, and the person will breathe properly again after stabilizing.
  • Do not offer water or any food until the person is fully recovered.
  • It takes at least 30 minutes for the person to recover, and it is normal for the person to vomit during this time.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to First aid for seizures , we recommend that you enter our Brain and Nerves category .

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