If someone has a seizure and falls, clear the area around them, lay them on their side, time it by the clock, and put nothing in their mouth

In a real emergency, call 911 first, then read this.

Cost

Free.

What you get

Avoids the tooth and jaw injuries caused by prying the mouth open and forcing in hard objects. Avoids the fractures caused by forcibly holding the person down. A seizure that goes on for more than 5 minutes is the red line for calling an ambulance. A seizure with fever in a child is called a febrile seizure. The UK National Health Service (NHS) says it is most common in children aged 6 months to 6 years. It usually lasts 2 to 3 minutes, rarely more than 10 minutes, and generally does not hurt the child or leave lasting effects. The NHS lists several situations in which to call the emergency number: a first seizure, one lasting more than 5 minutes, trouble breathing, or twitching on one side of the body only. Also, being sleepier than usual for more than 1 hour after it stops, and having more than one seizure within 24 hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics' 2011 guideline says that for a simple febrile seizure in a child aged 6 to 60 months, an EEG, blood tests or brain imaging are generally not needed afterward. The doctor mainly looks for the cause of the fever. The NHS also advises not to cool a child down by taking clothes off or sponging with cold water

Notes

The same page lists other cases that call for an ambulance at once: another seizure soon after one ends, being unable to wake the person or trouble breathing afterward, injury during the seizure, a seizure in water, and a first-time seizure. When the seizure stops, lay the person on their side with the mouth facing down, and give water only once they are fully awake. These steps are most useful where someone in the home has epilepsy. When a child has a seizure with fever, the NHS also says not to move the child around or hold the child down, and that you can protect the head with your hands or something soft. If the child is still seizing or can't be woken, don't carry the child to the hospital yourself; call 120 directly. After a first febrile seizure, the child should be taken to the hospital for a check once it has ended. Doing the same for a stranger gives you a smaller chance of benefit coming back to you, but it will not make you liable either (Civil Code Article 184, see §13.2, don't rush to pull the person up).

Evidence grade

B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.

Sources

1. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. First aid for seizures: "Don't hold the person down or stop their movements" "Don't put anything in their mouth. This can hurt their teeth or jaw" "Don't offer water or food until they are fully alert" "Time the seizure to track if it lasts more than 5 minutes. If it does, seek immediate medical attention or call 911". https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/first-aid-for-seizures/index.html
2. NHS. Febrile seizures: "it's unlikely to harm your child or cause long-term effects" "Febrile seizures usually last for 2 to 3 minutes. It's rare for them to last more than 10 minutes" "They usually affect children between 6 months and 6 years old" "has a seizure for the first time" "has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes" "is more sleepy than usual for more than 1 hour after the seizure stops" "protect their head with your hands or something soft" "do not move your child or try to hold them in place" "do not try to lower your child's temperature by undressing them or sponging them with cold water" "Do not take your child to A&E if they are still having a seizure or are unconscious, call 999 instead" "your child will need to be checked in hospital after having a febrile seizure for the first time". https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/
3. Subcommittee on Febrile Seizures, American Academy of Pediatrics (2011). Neurodiagnostic evaluation of the child with a simple febrile seizure. Pediatrics, 127(2), 389-394: "In general, a simple febrile seizure does not usually require further evaluation, specifically electroencephalography, blood studies, or neuroimaging". https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-3318

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 13, tip 16. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer