Seizure First Aid: Stay, Safe, Side, When to Call 911 and What Never to Put in Someone’s Mouth

Quick answer: the Epilepsy Foundation teaches “Stay, Safe, Side.” Stay with the person and time the seizure. Keep them safe by moving hard or sharp objects away, cushioning the head and never restraining them or putting anything in their mouth. Turn them onto their side once they are not fully awake and aware, to help keep the airway clear. Call 911 if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, if another starts right after, if it is a first seizure, if breathing does not return to normal, if it happens in water, or if the person is injured, pregnant or has diabetes.

Watching someone have a seizure can be frightening, especially the first time. The person may stiffen, fall, jerk rhythmically, make sounds or stop responding. Bystanders often feel they must do something dramatic. In reality, the most helpful actions are calm, simple and focused on safety. The CDC notes that most seizures end in a few minutes and do not require emergency care, but some do, and knowing the difference matters.

This guide explains seizure first aid for adults and children, based on guidance from the Epilepsy Foundation, the CDC and the American Red Cross. It is part of our apartment emergency kit guide, which covers the supplies and plans every city household should have.

Sources: Epilepsy Foundation, “Seizure First Aid” and “Stay, Safe, Side” materials; CDC, “First Aid for Seizures”; American Red Cross first aid guidance; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), “Epilepsy and Seizures.” Checked November 2026. This is general safety information, not medical advice. Follow a person’s own seizure action plan when one exists, and call 911 in an emergency.

What a Seizure Is

A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, according to NINDS. It can change awareness, movement, sensation or behavior for a short time. Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has repeated seizures that are not caused by another known, reversible problem.

Not every seizure looks the same. Two broad types are worth knowing for first aid.

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures are the type most people picture. The person may cry out, lose consciousness, fall, stiffen and then have jerking movements of the arms and legs. Breathing may seem shallow or stop briefly, and the lips may look bluish. Afterward the person is often confused, sleepy or upset.

Focal seizures with impaired awareness can be quieter. The person may stare, not respond, chew or smack the lips, pick at clothing or wander. They may not remember the episode.

Seizures can also happen in people without epilepsy, for example from a high fever in young children, low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, a head injury or a stroke.

Stay, Safe, Side

The Epilepsy Foundation’s three-word method covers the core of seizure first aid.

Stay

• Stay with the person until they are fully awake and aware.
• Time the seizure from the start. Use your phone’s clock or stopwatch.
• Stay calm. Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes.
• Check for a medical ID bracelet, necklace or phone emergency info.

Safe

• Move hard, sharp or hot objects away from the person.
• Cushion the head with something soft, such as a folded jacket.
• Loosen anything tight around the neck, such as a tie or scarf.
• Do not restrain the person or try to stop their movements.
• Never put anything in their mouth. A person cannot swallow their tongue, and objects in the mouth can break teeth or block the airway.
• Do not give food, water or pills by mouth until the person is fully alert.

Side

• Turn the person onto their side if they are not awake and aware, to help keep the airway clear and let saliva drain.
• Keep them on their side until they recover, and stay with them.

When to Call 911

The Epilepsy Foundation and the CDC advise calling 911 if any of the following apply:

• The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
• One seizure follows another without the person waking in between
• It is the person’s first seizure, or you do not know if they have a history of seizures
• The person has trouble breathing or does not start breathing normally after the seizure
• The seizure happens in water
• The person is injured, pregnant or has diabetes
• The person does not return to their usual state, or is confused for longer than usual
• The seizure is different from the person’s usual seizures

If the person has a seizure action plan that says to call 911 at a different point, or to give a rescue medication, follow the plan.

Seizures in water

A seizure in a pool, bathtub or other water is an emergency even if it ends quickly. The Epilepsy Foundation advises supporting the person’s head so the face stays above water, getting them out as soon as it is safe and calling 911, because water may have been inhaled.

What Not to Do

The most common mistakes come from old myths.

Do not put anything in the mouth. This includes fingers, spoons and wallets. The idea that people swallow their tongue during a seizure is a myth, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Do not hold the person down. Restraining movements can cause injuries to the person or to you, and it will not stop the seizure.

Do not give CPR during the jerking phase. People usually start breathing again on their own after a seizure ends. Start CPR only if the person is not breathing normally after the seizure stops, or if they are unresponsive with no normal breathing. Our guide to hands-only CPR and AED basics covers what to do in that case.

Do not offer water or food until the person is fully alert and can swallow safely.

Do not leave the person alone while they recover.

After the Seizure

Recovery can take minutes to hours. During this period, sometimes called the postictal phase, the person may be confused, tired, embarrassed or frightened, and they may not remember what happened.

Here is how to help:

1. Keep them on their side until fully awake.
2. Speak calmly and explain what happened in simple words.
3. Check for injuries, such as cuts or bumps from a fall.
4. Offer to help them get somewhere private to rest.
5. Stay with them, or make sure someone else does, until they are back to normal.
6. Help them contact a family member or friend if they want.

If you timed the seizure and noticed details, such as how it started and which body parts moved, share that information with the person, family or paramedics. These details help doctors.

Home Safety for Someone Who Has Seizures

Seizure first aid covers the minutes during and after a seizure. Home safety reduces the chance that a seizure causes a serious injury in the first place. The Epilepsy Foundation publishes safety suggestions for people with epilepsy and their families, and several are easy to put in place in an apartment.

In the bathroom, showers are generally safer than baths, because drowning risk is highest in a tub. A shower chair with a hand-held shower head reduces the risk of falls. Bathroom doors that open outward, or locks that can be opened from outside, make it easier for someone to help.

The kitchen is another common place for injuries. Using the back burners, turning pot handles inward and using a microwave instead of the stove when alone all lower burn risk. Carpeting or padding on hard floors and corner guards on sharp furniture help in rooms where the person spends a lot of time.

Sleep, stress and missed medication are among the most common seizure triggers, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Pill organizers, phone reminders and a regular sleep schedule are simple, practical tools. People who live alone may also want a check-in routine with a friend or family member, and some use seizure detection devices; a doctor can advise on whether one is useful.

Seizures in Public Places and Apartment Buildings

Seizures can happen on the subway, in an elevator, at a crowded event or on a sidewalk. Crowds can make things harder. A few steps help:

• Ask bystanders to give the person space and privacy.
• If the person is in a wheelchair, keep them in the chair with the brakes on and seat belt fastened, support the head and turn them on their side afterward only if needed and possible.
• If the person is in a seat on a bus or train, ease them down to a safe position if possible, or keep them from falling.
• In stairwells or near platform edges, move hazards and prevent falls without restraining the person.

Building staff, doormen and neighbors benefit from knowing these basics, especially when a resident is known to have epilepsy. An apartment building emergency plan with your neighbors is a good place to include it.

Seizure Action Plans and Rescue Medications

Many people with epilepsy have a written seizure action plan from their doctor. The Epilepsy Foundation offers templates. A plan typically lists:

• The person’s usual seizure types and what they look like
• How long their seizures usually last
• When to call 911
• Whether they have a rescue medication, how to give it and when
• Emergency contacts and doctors

Some people are prescribed rescue medications, such as certain nasal sprays or rectal gels, to stop prolonged or clustered seizures. These are given only as directed on the plan by people who have been trained.

Households with a person who has epilepsy should keep the plan on the refrigerator, in the person’s bag and on their phone. Caregivers, roommates, teachers and coworkers should know where to find it.

Preparing for Seizures During Emergencies

Disasters and outages can make seizures more likely for some people with epilepsy. Missed doses, lack of sleep, stress and heat are known seizure triggers. A few preparedness steps help.

Medication supply. Keep a backup supply of seizure medicines if your doctor and insurance allow it, and know how to get emergency refills during a disaster. Our emergency medication plan guide covers refill rules and storage.

Go-bag. Pack a copy of the seizure action plan, a list of medications and doses, any rescue medicine and a medical ID. Our urban go-bag checklist explains how to organize it.

Power outages. If a family member uses a medical device for seizure monitoring, plan for backup power. Darkness and stairwells also raise the injury risk during a seizure, so keep flashlights and clear paths.

Shelters. If you go to an emergency shelter, tell staff about the condition and the action plan.

Quick Reference

Do	Do not
Stay with the person and time the seizure	Hold the person down
Move hard or sharp objects away	Put anything in their mouth
Cushion the head	Give food, water or pills until fully alert
Turn them onto their side	Leave them alone afterward
Call 911 after 5 minutes or for any red flag	Start CPR during jerking movements

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone swallow their tongue during a seizure?

No. The Epilepsy Foundation describes this as a myth. Never put anything in a person’s mouth during a seizure.

How long is too long for a seizure?

Call 911 if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, or if seizures happen back to back without recovery in between.

Should I call 911 for every seizure?

Not always. If the person has known epilepsy, the seizure is typical for them, it ends within 5 minutes and they recover normally, emergency care may not be needed. Follow their seizure action plan. Call 911 for first seizures, long seizures, injuries, breathing problems, seizures in water and other red flags.

What should I do if a child has a seizure with a fever?

Follow the same first aid steps. Febrile seizures are common in young children. Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or the child has trouble breathing, and contact the child’s doctor afterward.

Do I need training to help someone having a seizure?

No special training is needed for basic first aid, but free online seizure first aid training from the Epilepsy Foundation can build confidence.

The Bottom Line

Seizure first aid comes down to Stay, Safe, Side: stay with the person and time the seizure, keep them safe without restraining them or putting anything in their mouth, and turn them onto their side. Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, repeats, is a first seizure, happens in water or comes with injury or breathing problems. Keep seizure action plans visible, pack medication and plans in your go-bag and teach your household the basics.