If your child has a seizure, knowing the first few steps can help you stay calm and keep them safe. Get clear, parent-focused guidance on how to help a child having a seizure, what not to do, and when to call 911.
Answer a few questions to get personalized guidance on child seizure first aid steps, safety during a seizure, and when emergency care may be needed.
Start by focusing on safety. Gently move hard or sharp objects away, place your child on their side if you can, and loosen anything tight around the neck. Time the seizure if possible, and stay with your child until they are fully awake and aware. These simple seizure first aid steps can help protect your child while you decide whether emergency help is needed.
Guide them away from danger, cushion their head, and turn them onto their side when possible to help keep the airway clear.
Notice how long it lasts, what movements you see, and how your child acts afterward. These details can help medical professionals.
Do not leave your child alone during or right after the seizure. Reassure them as they recover, even if they seem sleepy or confused.
A child cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure. Putting objects in the mouth can cause injury.
Trying to stop the movements can lead to harm. Focus on preventing injury instead of restraining them.
Wait until your child is fully awake and able to swallow safely before giving anything by mouth, unless a clinician has given specific rescue instructions.
A prolonged seizure needs urgent medical attention, especially if it does not stop on its own.
Call 911 if your child has trouble breathing, gets hurt during the seizure, or has a seizure in water.
Emergency care is important if this is your child's first seizure, if another seizure starts soon after, or if they do not wake up and recover as expected.
Keep your child away from hazards, cushion their head, turn them on their side if possible, and time the seizure. Stay with them until they are fully awake. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth.
Seizure first aid for toddlers follows the same basic steps: protect from injury, place on the side when possible, watch breathing, and time the event. Because toddlers can be harder to monitor, close observation during recovery is especially important.
Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, your child has trouble breathing, gets injured, has a seizure in water, has repeated seizures without recovering, or this is their first known seizure.
Do not hold your child down, do not put anything in their mouth, and do not give food, drink, or medicine until they are fully alert and able to swallow safely.
Answer a few questions to better understand how confident you feel, what seizure emergency first aid for kids looks like, and the next steps that may help you feel more prepared.
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