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First aid for epileptic seizures

A selection of first aid information for epileptic seizures including how to put someone into the recovery position and what to do if someone is in 'status'. 

Everyone should know what to do when they see someone having an epileptic seizure.

Epileptic seizures can be divided into two main types: focal seizures and generalised seizures. Seizures can vary from one person to another and how people are affected and how they recover after seizures varies. How you can best help someone during a seizure depends on what type of seizure they have and how it affects them.

 

 

 

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Calm, Cushion, Call

Our campaign, focusing on tonic clonic seizures, gives people three simple but key instructions to remember in an emergency: “Calm, Cushion, Call.”

Download our first aid poster

This poster tells you what to do if someone has a seizure.

Status epilepticus

A person's seizures usually last the same length of time each time they happen and stop by themselves. However, sometimes seizures do not stop or one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between. If this goes on for 5 minutes or more it is called status epilepticus or ‘status’.

Want to know more?

Order or download our first aid leaflet:

Download the PDF
 

For printed copies, please call our Helpline on 01494 601 400. Please note - we require a purchase order for bulk orders.

Information updated: December 2021

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