Seizures in Adults: First Aid Steps and Myths to Stop Believing
Almost everything films taught us about seizures is wrong. You can’t swallow your tongue, and holding someone down can injure them. Here is what actually helps.
If you have ever watched someone have a seizure, you know how alarming it is — and how strong the urge is to “do something,” anything. Unfortunately, the most common instincts (holding the person still, prying their mouth open) are not just unhelpful, they are dangerous. Decades of movies and well-meaning advice have spread myths that lead bystanders to cause harm.
The truth is that helping during a seizure is mostly about protecting the person and getting out of the way of the body’s process. This guide walks through exactly what to do, debunks the myths, and tells you when a seizure becomes a 911 emergency.
The Myths — and the Truth
Myth: “Put a wallet or spoon in their mouth so they don’t swallow their tongue.”
Truth: It is physically impossible to swallow your tongue. Forcing an object — or your fingers — into the mouth of a seizing person can break their teeth, dislocate their jaw, block their airway, or result in a severe bite to your hand. Never put anything in the mouth.
Myth: “Hold them down to stop the shaking.”
Truth: You cannot stop a seizure by restraining someone, and trying to can tear muscles, strain joints, or break bones — both theirs and yours. Let the seizure happen and focus on clearing hazards from around them.
Myth: “Give them water or medication during the seizure.”
Truth: Never give food, drink, or pills to someone who is seizing or not fully conscious afterward. They cannot swallow safely and could choke.
Myth: “A seizure means epilepsy and an ambulance.”
Truth: Many people with epilepsy have brief seizures that stop on their own and do not need 911. An ambulance is needed only when specific red flags appear (listed below).
Step-by-Step: First Aid for a Convulsive Seizure
This applies to a tonic-clonic seizure — the type where a person loses consciousness, stiffens, and has rhythmic jerking.
1Note the time it starts
Check a clock or start a timer the instant the seizure begins. The 5-minute mark is the key decision point for calling 911, and seizures almost always feel longer than they are. Accurate timing is genuinely lifesaving information.
2Clear the area and protect them
Move away furniture, hard objects, hot drinks, and anything sharp. If they are near a road, water, or stairs, gently guide them away from danger if you safely can. Place something soft — a folded jacket, a cushion — under their head, and remove glasses and loosen anything tight around the neck.
3Do not restrain them, do not touch their mouth
Let the movements happen. Do not hold them down and do not put anything between their teeth. Your job is to keep the space around them safe, not to stop the seizure.
4When the jerking stops, roll them onto their side
Once the convulsions end, gently place the person in the recovery position — on their side, with the head tilted slightly back and the top knee bent for stability. This keeps the airway open and lets saliva or vomit drain out instead of being inhaled.
5Stay with them and reassure them
After a seizure, people are often confused, exhausted, embarrassed, or upset — this recovery phase can last many minutes. Stay calm, speak gently, tell them what happened, and stay until they are fully alert and oriented. Protect their dignity, especially in public.
6If they are not breathing normally — begin CPR
It is uncommon, but if after the seizure the person is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping, call 911 and start CPR immediately. Knowing how means you will act instead of freeze — every Life Safe course includes hands-on CPR practice.
When to Call 911 for a Seizure
Call 911 if:
- The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
- A second seizure begins soon after the first
- The person does not regain consciousness or normal breathing after the seizure ends
- It is their first-ever seizure, or you do not know their history
- The seizure happened in water
- The person is injured, pregnant, or has diabetes
- You have any doubt about whether help is needed
Not All Seizures Look Like Convulsions
Some seizures are subtle. A person may suddenly stare blankly, become unresponsive for a short time, make repetitive movements like lip-smacking or fidgeting, wander, or seem confused and unaware of their surroundings. During these, gently guide them away from danger, speak calmly, do not grab or restrain them, and stay with them until they are fully aware again. The same rule applies: call 911 if it is prolonged, repeated, or their first.
Help Without Fear
Most people freeze during a seizure because they are afraid of doing the wrong thing — and the myths make it worse. Learning the real steps, and practising the recovery position with your own hands, removes that fear. A Life Safe first aid course covers seizure response, the recovery position, and CPR, so you can step in calmly and correctly when it counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you do when someone is having a seizure?
Stay calm and note the time. Clear hard objects away and cushion their head. Do not restrain them and do not put anything in their mouth. When the jerking stops, roll them onto their side into the recovery position. Stay with them as they recover, and call 911 if it lasts over 5 minutes, repeats, or is their first seizure.
Should you put something in a seizing person’s mouth?
No — never. A person cannot swallow their tongue. Forcing a spoon, wallet, or fingers into the mouth can break teeth, damage the jaw, block the airway, or get you badly bitten. Leave the mouth alone and focus on protecting the head and turning them on their side afterward.
When should you call 911 for a seizure?
Call 911 if the seizure lasts over 5 minutes, a second follows quickly, the person does not regain consciousness or normal breathing, it is their first seizure, it happened in water, they are injured, pregnant, or diabetic, or you are unsure. Many people with epilepsy have brief seizures that do not need an ambulance, but any red flag means call.
Should you hold someone down during a seizure?
No. Never restrain someone having a seizure. You cannot stop the movements, and forcing the body still can cause muscle, joint, or bone injuries to them and to you. Instead, clear the area, cushion their head, and let the seizure run its course.
Replace Panic With Practised Confidence
The difference between freezing and helping is training. Life Safe’s hands-on first aid and CPR courses teach you the real, evidence-based response to seizures and other medical emergencies — no myths, just skills that work.
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