Download seizure first aid flyers and posters in multiple languages, here.

I cannot overstate the importance of seizure first aid.

We are taught many basic life saving techniques starting in early childhood and I believe that seizure first aid should be on that list. Perhaps in a health class you learned about the Heimlich maneuver to save a person who is choking. You know to apply pressure to a wound to stop blood loss. Learning what to do when someone is having a seizure could prevent serious injury or even worse, death.

My journey with epilepsy began at the age of 15, in 1973. While cycling home from school, my life changed in an instant when someone threw a house brick that struck me in the head. I sustained a depressed compound fracture of my skull, and within an hour I began experiencing tonic-clonic seizures.

My early memories after the injury are fragmented. I recall waking in recovery after brain surgery, my parents beside me, followed by waves of nausea. Eventually, I was transferred back to my hometown hospital in Swindon. During one of my first meals there, I had a seizure. I remember waking to find the floor being cleaned, slowly realizing what had happened. I lay silently in bed for the rest of the day, overwhelmed by confusion and embarrassment. I did not yet understand what epilepsy meant for my life.

Looking back now, as someone who has lived with epilepsy for over 50 years, I am struck by how little preparation myself, my family, or my friends received. One important memory stands out. During a Sunday family lunch—a cherished tradition in England—I had a seizure at the table. My mother was afraid I was going to choke, so she tried to remove food from my mouth. During the seizure, I bit her fingers badly, and she required medical treatment for weeks afterward.

Another vivid memory comes from a day when I was walking to a job interview. I had what is called an aura – which is a warning a person may receive before they start to have a seizure. These can involve sensory, emotional, or cognitive changes. Common examples include feelings of intense fear or joy, strange smells or tastes, or visual distortions like flashing lights. In my case, I hear a clicking sound and my head slowly turns. I know that I need to get my body to as safe a space as possible before I lose consciousness. I was able to sit down on a rock wall, decreasing the distance I would fall to the ground.

When I came to, I was surrounded by concerned bystanders who didn’t know what to do after a seizure. As I gradually became aware of what had happened, I tried to tell them that I would be okay (my seizure had last less than 5 minutes) and that I really needed to get to my interview. However, they had already called emergency services and I went instead to the hospital (I didn’t get the job).

These examples highlight the need for seizure first aid to be more widely taught.

What to do during a seizure?

NEVER put anything in a person’s mouth during a seizure. They will not swallow their tongue. Intervening can cause serious injury to both the person helping and the individual having the seizure. Nor should you restrain their movements – again, serious injury could occur to both parties.

Seizure First Aid Essentials:

• Stay calm and ensure the person is safe.
• Cushion the head and remove nearby hazards.
• Turn the person onto their side once the seizure subsides.
• Time the seizure.
• Stay with them until they are fully recovered.

Learn more and download seizure first aid flyers and posters in multiple languages, here.

What to do after a seizure?

Here is another memory. Over the course of a few years, my seizures gradually came under medical control. About a year after my injury, I underwent surgery to insert a vitallium plate into my forehead. Aside from some scarring, there is little visible evidence of the trauma.

The next major challenge was transitioning to university. Before I left, my general practitioner made the decision to discontinue my medication. Initially, things went well. However, on my very first day at the University of Leeds, during a social gathering in the residence hall, I had a seizure within minutes of arriving.

In a strange way, this removed the burden of deciding whether to disclose my condition—everyone already knew. The compassion I received was remarkable. My roommate, Charlie, sat with me the next morning, put his arm around me, and asked, ‘Phil, what is epilepsy, and how can I help?’ I have never forgotten that moment.

If more people were educated about epilepsy, seizures, and seizure first aid, the stigma surrounding epilepsy would be significantly decreased. Everyone should understand basic seizure first aid – you will likely need it at some point in your life. And by prioritizing compassion and curiosity over fear and prejudice, you may provide a person who is struggling with the support they need at a time when they need it most.