Someone is having a seizure — clear the area, place them on their side, time the episode, and don’t put anything in their mouth.

16. Someone is having a seizure — clear the area, place them on their side, time the episode, and don’t put anything in their mouth.

Cost: No cost at all.

In plain terms: Move any hard objects away from the person. Lay them on their side with their mouth facing down, and start timing the seizure. Don’t hold them down, don’t force their mouth open, and don’t put anything into their mouth — doing so can easily damage teeth and jaws. Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if it stops briefly then starts again, if the person doesn’t respond afterward or has trouble breathing, if it occurs in water, or if this is the person’s first seizure ever. Only give water after they’ve fully regained consciousness.

Benefit: This approach prevents injuries to teeth and jaws caused by forcing the mouth open or inserting foreign objects. It also avoids fractures that can result from restraining a convulsing person. A seizure lasting over 5 minutes is a clear medical emergency requiring immediate ambulance help.

Evidence grade: B

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seizure First Aid: "Don't hold the person down or stop their movements" "Don't put anything in their mouth. This can hurt their teeth or jaw" "Don't offer water or food until they are fully alert" "Time the seizure to track if it lasts more than 5 minutes. If it does, seek immediate medical attention or call 911". <https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/first-aid-for-seizures/index.html>

Notes: The same page lists several other situations that also demand immediate ambulance call: a seizure that ends only to recur quickly, post‑seizure unresponsiveness or breathing difficulty, any injury sustained during the episode, a seizure occurring in water, or a first‑time seizure. After the seizure stops, the person should be placed on their side with the mouth down, and only then given water once fully awake. This guidance is primarily intended for family members caring for someone with epilepsy; applying these steps to a stranger offers fewer personal benefits but still protects you from legal liability (Civil Code Article 184, see item 2 in this section — don’t rush to lift the person up).