Get Seizure Smart! | Features | Epilepsy

Extra steps may be needed to help someone who is having a seizure with muscle stiffening, jerking, falling, or loss of awareness—called a “generalized seizure”

When a person is having a generalized seizure, they may cry out, fall, shake or jerk, and become unaware of what’s going on around them.

To help someone who is having a generalized seizure:

1. Ease the person to the floor.
2. Turn the person gently onto one side. This will help their breathing.
3. Clear the area around them of anything hard or sharp to prevent injury.
4. Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under their head.
5. Take off their eyeglasses.
6. Loosen ties or anything around their neck that may make it hard to breathe.
7. Time the seizure. Call 911 if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.