Seizures Hūkeke
A seizure happens when there is an abnormal surge of electricity in your brain. There are different types of seizures (sometimes called a fit). Find out what to do if someone is having a seizure that causes them to collapse and have jerking movements (convulsions).
How to recognise a seizure
Most seizures last just a few minutes. When a seizure happens, the person may:
- call out
- fall
- start shaking or jerking
- have shallow breathing
- lose control of their bladder or bowels
- not be aware of what is happening around them
- bite their tongue and bleed from it.
Seizures may be caused by a range of health conditions including epilepsy.
Helping someone who is having a seizure
If someone is having a seizure:
- stay with them
- be calm
- protect them from danger — remove any nearby harmful objects
- protect them from injury — cushion their head with something flat and soft such as a folded jacket
- take off their glasses if they wear any
- loosen their tie or anything tight around their neck.
Make sure you do not:
- put anything in their mouth
- hold them down, restrain them or try to move them.
After the seizure
- When the seizure has stopped, lay them gently on their side in the recovery position.
- Comfort and reassure them.
- Stay with them until they are fully awake and have recovered.
- Check if they are wearing a medical alert bracelet or pendant.
How to put someone in the recovery position
- Kneel beside the person. Take the arm closest to you and put it at a right angle to their body
- Take the other arm and bring it across their body so the back of their hand is resting under their chin
- Bend the knee furthest from you until their foot is flat on the floor.
- Pull on the bent knee to roll the person towards you. Slightly tilt the persons head back to make sure they can continue breathing.
