Australian quick reference
Seizures
How to keep someone safe during and after a seizure.
The short answer
Protect the person from injury, clear hazards, cushion their head and time the seizure. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Call 000 for a first or unknown seizure, one lasting more than 5 minutes, a repeat seizure, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing problems or failure to recover.
Protect, time, reassess
What should you do during and after a seizure?
Clear hazards, protect the head and let the movements happen. Call Triple Zero (000) for a first or prolonged seizure, repeated seizure, serious injury or breathing concern.
| What you find | Do next |
|---|---|
| During the movements | Move hard or sharp objects away, ease a fall if possible, cushion the head with something soft and flat, and time the seizure. Do not restrain the person or put anything in their mouth. |
| The area is dangerous | Move the person only far enough to get them safe. Otherwise leave them where they are and let the seizure run its course. |
| Call 000 now | Call for a first or unknown seizure, one lasting more than 5 minutes, another seizure quickly following, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing difficulty or failure to regain consciousness. |
| After the movements stop | If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, use the recovery position and keep checking breathing. Reassure them and do not offer food or drink until they are fully awake and alert. |
Four things to remember
See the next decision
These visual cues are a memory aid. In a real emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and follow the call-taker's instructions.
Ease a fall if possible, move hard or sharp objects away and place something soft and flat under the person’s head.
The person may stiffen, jerk, lose awareness or stare blankly.
Do not restrain the person or try to stop the jerking.
Call 000 for a first or unknown seizure, more than 5 minutes, another seizure quickly following, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing difficulty, persistent unresponsiveness or any serious concern.
Illustrated field notes
See the situation, then choose the next safe action
These original illustrations support recall. They are not a substitute for the written steps, a current first-aid course or the Triple Zero (000) call-taker.
Visual memory cue
See the pattern before you practise
Use this simple visual reminder alongside the written steps. In a real emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and follow the call-taker's instructions.
- 01Make spaceClear hazards and cushion the head.
- 02Time itStay with the person and let it run.
- 03Call 000Escalate at five minutes or for serious signs.
- 04ReassessSide position if unresponsive and breathing normally.
01
What to do first
- Ease a fall if possible, move hard or sharp objects away and place something soft and flat under the person’s head.
- Time the seizure and stay with the person. Let the movements happen; do not restrain them or force their mouth open.
- Move the person only if the area is dangerous. If they become unresponsive and are breathing normally after the movements stop, place them in the recovery position and keep the airway clear.
- Call 000 for a first or unknown seizure, a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, another seizure quickly following, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing difficulty or failure to regain consciousness.
- Reassure the person as they recover, keep checking breathing and do not offer food or drink until they are fully awake and alert.
02
What to avoid
- Do not restrain the person or try to stop the jerking.
- Do not put fingers, food, drink or any object in their mouth.
- Do not move them during the seizure unless the area is dangerous.
- Do not leave them alone or assume the emergency is over when the movements stop.
03
When to call 000
- Call 000 for a first or unknown seizure, more than 5 minutes, another seizure quickly following, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing difficulty, persistent unresponsiveness or any serious concern.
04
What to monitor
- After the seizure, check the airway and breathing frequently, use the recovery position if they are unresponsive but breathing normally, reassure them and record what happened and how long it lasted.
Recognition cues
What you may notice
- The person may stiffen, jerk, lose awareness or stare blankly.
- They may drool, lose bladder control, fall or be confused and sleepy afterwards.
- A seizure may look different from one person to another, and the person may be awake during some seizure types.
- Breathing can be shallow or affected during or after a convulsive seizure.
Avoid these traps
Common mistakes
- Putting anything in the person's mouth or trying to hold their tongue.
- Restraining the person or trying to stop the movements.
- Failing to time the seizure or leaving the person alone afterwards.
- Offering food or drink before they are fully awake and alert.
Use the same protect, time and no-mouth-object steps for a child or infant. Call 000 for a child's first seizure, a seizure longer than 5 minutes, failure to wake or a child who looks seriously ill; follow the call-taker. Febrile seizures need medical assessment and separate child health advice.
When help is on the way
Keep the handover useful
- Clear hazards, cushion the head and turn the person on their side when the movements stop if they are unresponsive but breathing normally.
- Stay with them, check breathing frequently, reassure them until they recover and tell responders how long the seizure lasted.
- Do not offer food or drink until they are fully awake and alert.
Practise the pattern
Make it easier to remember
Common questions
Quick answers
When should I call 000 for a seizure?
Call 000 for a first or unknown seizure, one lasting more than 5 minutes, another seizure quickly following, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing difficulty, failure to recover or any serious concern.
Should I put something in their mouth?
No. Do not force the mouth open or put fingers or objects in it. Protect the head and clear hazards instead.
What should I do after the jerking stops?
If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position, keep checking breathing and stay with them. Do not offer food or drink until fully awake and alert.
When should I call 000 for a seizure?
Call 000 for a first or unknown seizure, one lasting more than 5 minutes, another seizure quickly following, injury, water, pregnancy, diabetes, breathing difficulty, failure to recover or any serious concern.
Should I put something in their mouth?
No. Do not force the mouth open or put fingers or objects in it. Protect their head and clear hazards instead.
What should I do after the jerking stops?
If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, use the recovery position, keep checking breathing and stay with them. Do not offer food or drink until fully awake and alert.
Expanded the opening seizure pathway with hazard protection, timing, no-restraint/no-mouth-object guidance, recovery position, child wording and Australian 000 thresholds against current Healthdirect, ANZCOR, Epilepsy Action Australia and St John guidance.