How can I help someone who has an episode of seizures?

Here are a few things that you should do to help someone that is suffering from seizures.

• Help them to gently lie down as a fall could cause injuries that can range from bruises to fractures.

• Ask for help if someone else is there and have them contact 9-1-1. If you are alone, focus on the patient first to ensure his safety before asking for help.

• Clear the way by pushing and removing all objects that could be in the way of the patient suffering from seizures. This is another way to prevent injuries. Also, ask other people to leave as they might be in the way and also seeing an episode of seizures can be a difficult experience in itself. The last thing that you need is another patient that could be affected by anguish, shock, a breakdown or being traumatized by all this.

• Loosen his clothes as during seizures, a patient could have problems breathing. Loosen ties, open the first buttons of a fully buttoned shirt and undo the belt. This will facilitate the breathing as it will prevent pressure and partial or full blockage of the airways.

• Get help by taking a phone with you if possible, so you can keep an eye on the patient at the same time. Be calm, observe and share your observations with the 9-1-1 helper. Time the seizure's duration. If there are more than one, time the other ones as well as the time in between. Follow the instructions that are given to you until the paramedics' arrival.

• When the seizure is over gently turn the patient on the side and put the outside arm and leg on the floor, in front of him to avoid that he rolls on his stomach and block the airways. This is called the "recovery position". It will allow the patient to rest and if he should vomit, his airways won't be blocked it will avoid any breathing problems.

• Investigate the inside of the mouth in case something injured him causing some bleeding, broken teeth that could block the airways as well as vomit and an excess of mucus. That is why you should never put anything in the mouth of the patient during a seizure as it can break the object and injure himself or accidentally block his airways. Look for body injuries such as fractures, cuts and bruises. If anything should come to your attention, share these informations to the 9-1-1- helper.

• When the patient regains consciousness, inform the 9-1-1 helper right way and give her the time that lasted the episode of seizures. Then, take a blanket a blanket, cover him up as he might be cold and gently talk to him and reassure him as he might be both disoriented and exhausted following the seizures. Ask the helper if you should give him his medication and if so, get some water and his pills while he is comfortably resting. You don't want him to walk around as he might be so weak and might fall and injure himself. Give the name and dosage of the medication to both the helper and the paramedics upon their arrival.

• Share all the informations and your observations with the paramedics upon their arrival and give them the medication as they will need to inform both nurses and the treating doctor, at the hospital. At that time, the helper will probably cut the conversation short. Thank this person and let the paramedics do their work by ensuring easy access to the patient and keeping others away. If the patient knows you well, it might be wise to accompany him to the hospital and reassure him along the way.

Believe me, by following these steps, the patient will thank you for it as he will realize that he received the best care possible.