Seizure First Aid

Most seizures end after 1 to 2 minutes without harm.  These seizures do not usually require a trip to the emergency room.  You do not usually have to do anything if a person has brief periods of staring or shaking.  Seizure first aid should be used with shaking or jerking lasting longer than a few seconds.

If you child begins to have a seizure:

• Lay him/her on the floor on his/her side to keep his/her airway open
• Clear the area around him/her of anything hard or sharp
• Do not try to hold him/her down or stop his/her movements
• Loosen any tight clothing, especially anything around his/her neck
• Do not put anything in his/her mouth – she will not swallow his/her tongue
• Time the seizure

If your child’s seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes:

• Administer Diastat if his/her neurologist has prescribed this medicine
• If Diastat has not been prescribed, call 911 or take your child to your local emergency room

If your child’s seizure continues after administration of the Diastat:

• Administer the 2nd Diastat syringe if the seizure has lasted 5 minutes after the 1st syringe was given
• Prepare to call 911 or take your child to your local emergency room