Reviewed by the Mediband team · Aligned with Epilepsy Action Australia first aid guidance · July 2026

Seeing someone have a seizure can be frightening, especially the first time. The good news is that most seizures run their own course and end on their own, and a few simple steps make a real difference to keeping the person safe. This guide covers what to do during a seizure, what not to do, and when a seizure becomes an emergency — based on Epilepsy Action Australia first aid guidance.

What is seizure first aid?

Seizure first aid is the set of simple actions that keep a person safe while they have a seizure — staying with them, protecting them from injury, timing the seizure, and rolling them onto their side once it stops. You do not need training or equipment. A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that briefly changes movement, awareness or behaviour. The most widely recognised type is a tonic-clonic seizure (once called a grand mal), where the person loses consciousness, goes stiff, then jerks. Not all seizures involve convulsions — some involve staring, confusion or repeated movements — but the first-aid priority is always the same: keep the person safe and let the seizure run its course.

What to do during a tonic-clonic seizure: first aid steps

During a convulsive seizure, keep the person safe and let it happen — do not try to stop the movements. Follow these steps from Epilepsy Action Australia:

1. Stay with the person. Do not leave them alone while the seizure is happening.
2. Time the seizure. Note when it starts — the length matters for deciding whether to call an ambulance.
3. Keep the person safe. Move hard, sharp or hot objects out of the way and protect their head from injury, for example by cushioning it with something soft.
4. Roll them onto their side after the jerking stops — or straight away if there is food, fluid or vomit in the mouth. This is the recovery position and it keeps the airway clear.
5. Observe and monitor their breathing as they come round.
6. Reassure them gently until they have fully recovered. It is a good idea to make sure someone can go home with them.

What to do and what not to do

When should you call an ambulance for a seizure?

Call 000 if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, if another seizure follows quickly, or if the person is injured, has trouble breathing, or does not come round within 5 minutes. Seizures generally run their course and an ambulance is not always needed, but call 000 in any of these situations:

What should you not do during a seizure?

Never put anything in the person’s mouth, do not hold them down, and do not move them unless they are in real danger. Two of the most common and harmful myths are worth repeating: a person having a seizure cannot swallow their tongue, so putting fingers or objects in their mouth risks broken teeth and bitten fingers with no benefit. Restraining someone can cause injury and may make them agitated as they regain awareness. Let the seizure happen, keep the space around them clear, and be ready to roll them onto their side.

After the seizure: recovery and what to do next

After a tonic-clonic seizure a person is often tired, confused or embarrassed, and may not remember the seizure. Stay with them, keep them in the recovery position until they are fully awake, and reassure them calmly. Give them time and quiet. If this is their first seizure, encourage them to see a doctor even if they feel fine afterwards, because a first seizure should always be reviewed. For people who already know they have epilepsy, it can help to note what happened — how long the seizure lasted and what it looked like — to share with their treating doctor or record in their Epilepsy Management Plan.

How a medical ID helps in a seizure emergency

An epilepsy alert band flags the condition, key medications and an emergency contact at a glance — the information a first responder looks for first.

When someone has a seizure in public, the people helping are often strangers who know nothing about them. A medical ID does the talking in those first minutes: a bracelet or necklace engraved with “EPILEPSY”, key medications and an emergency contact tells a bystander or paramedic what is happening and who to call. It is exactly the information an Epilepsy Management Plan captures — carried on the wrist, where first responders are trained to look. For anyone living with epilepsy, or a carer supporting someone who is, a clearly engraved medical ID is a simple layer of safety.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides: epilepsy medical ID bracelets · common medical ID abbreviations · do paramedics check for a medical ID?