What to Do When Someone is Having a Seizure: Knowledge to Save a Life

Most people will at some point make the decision to learn basic first aid or CPR, and for good cause; you never know when you will see someone choking or in distress. It would be great if everyone learned these things, the world may be a safer place if that happened. There is one thing that the majority of people never consider: seeing someone have a seizure and the importance of knowing what to do.

We hear about heart attacks, choking, and allergic reactions all the time so of course we want to know what to do in those cases. It seems no one really talks about seizures unless their own life is in some way effected, thus leaving most people unprepared and/or unaware. I know that my family had no clue what a seizure was or what to do the day mine began and I am positive that we were not alone on that one.

The terrifying thing about seizures is that they can effect anyone, anytime. They can strike a perfectly healthy person with no warning and they don't differentiate between rich, poor, young, or old. Seizures can strike men, women, even infants and small children and the family may not have a clue how it happened or what to do. It may be at your place of work, or in a shopping mall that you witness a seizure and it can be frightening to watch. There are many things that you can do to help, whether it is a stranger or someone you know and love.

The first and possibly most important thing to remember is that you must stay calm and rational. Even if the person seizing has a history chances are they will wake up very frightened and confused. Most times the person isn't aware of what has happened, where they are, or even who they are. It could be someone you have known for years, all your life even, and when they wake up for those first few moments they can often be so disoriented that you are just a stranger standing over them. This can be extremely difficult for a parent or spouse to understand and often leaves them confused. You should keep in mind that once the person realizes what has happened they may begin to get upset or angry that this is happening to them and what they need more than anything is love and gentleness.