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).

On this page

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.

When to get immediate medical help

Call 111 for an ambulance if:

  • there is food, fluid or vomit in their mouth
  • they are having difficulty breathing once they have stopped jerking
  • the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
  • another seizure follows quickly
  • the person is not responsive 5 minutes after the seizure has stopped
  • they have injured themselves during the seizure.

If in doubt, seek medical help.

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

  1. Kneel beside the person. Take the arm closest to you and put it at a right angle to their body
  2. Take the other arm and bring it across their body so the back of their hand is resting under their chin
  3. Bend the knee furthest from you until their foot is flat on the floor.
  4. Pull on the bent knee to roll the person towards you. Slightly tilt the persons head back to make sure they can continue breathing.

Four images showing a woman rolling an unconscious man onto his side into the recovery position.