Seizures

Overview

A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. First aid focuses on preventing injury, timing the event, and supporting breathing afterwards.

Signs and Symptoms

• Sudden collapse or loss of awareness
• Jerking or stiffening of the body
• Staring, confusion, or unusual behaviour
• Noisy, irregular, or paused breathing during the seizure
• Drowsiness, headache, or confusion after the seizure

First Aid

• Follow DRSABCD.
• Move nearby hazards away and protect the head from injury.
• Time the seizure from the start if possible.
• Loosen tight clothing around the neck.
• Do not restrain the person.
• Do not put anything in their mouth.
• Once movements stop, check breathing and place them in the recovery position if they are unconscious and breathing normally.
• Stay with them until fully recovered or handed over to help.

When to Call 000

Call 000 if:

• It is the person's first known seizure
• The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
• Another seizure follows before full recovery
• The person is injured, pregnant, diabetic, or has a seizure in water
• They are not breathing normally or do not recover as expected