Seeing someone have a seizure (a fit, or daura) can be frightening, especially the first time. The good news is that most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes, and the most helpful things you can do are simple. This guide follows mainstream first-aid advice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the NHS (UK) and the Epilepsy Foundation (US). Print the card at the end and keep it at home, school or work.
Seizure first aid in three words: stay, safe, side
The Epilepsy Foundation sums up seizure first aid in three words:
- Stay with the person and time the seizure.
- Keep them safe from injury.
- Turn them gently onto their side once it is possible.
Step by step: a seizure with falling and shaking
This is the kind of seizure most people picture, where the person may cry out, fall, go stiff and then jerk.
- Stay calm and stay with them. Look at the time, or start a timer on your phone.
- Ease them to the floor if they are falling, and move them only if they are in danger, for example near a road, fire, water or stairs.
- Clear the area. Move away furniture, sharp or hot objects.
- Cushion the head with something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, dupatta or pillow.
- Loosen anything tight around the neck and remove glasses.
- Look for a medical card or bracelet that may give emergency contacts or a seizure plan.
- When the jerking stops, turn them gently onto their side (the recovery position), so that saliva can drain and breathing is easier.
- Stay until they are fully awake. Speak calmly, tell them where they are and what happened, and keep onlookers back to protect their dignity.
Seizures without falling or shaking
Some seizures look very different. The person may stare blankly, not respond, smack their lips, pick at their clothes or wander about confused for a minute or two. In these seizures:
- Stay with them and time it.
- Gently guide them away from danger such as traffic, stairs, a stove or water. Do not grab or hold them tightly, as this can make a confused person struggle.
- Speak calmly and reassure them until they are fully alert.
What NOT to do during a seizure
- Do not put anything in their mouth. Not a spoon, a cloth, your fingers, water or medicine. A person cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure, and objects can break teeth or block breathing.
- Do not hold them down or try to stop the movements. This can injure them or you.
- Do not make them smell a shoe or an onion, or put keys or iron in their hand. These are common beliefs in India, but they do not stop a seizure.
- Do not splash water on their face or try to wake them up by shaking them.
- Do not give food, water or tablets until they are fully awake and able to swallow safely.
- Do not leave them alone until they are fully recovered.
When to call 112
Call 112 (India's emergency number) or get an ambulance if:
- The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
- Another seizure starts soon after the first, or they have several without waking up in between.
- They have trouble breathing or do not wake up after the seizure.
- They are injured, for example a head injury.
- The seizure happened in water.
- It is their first-ever seizure, or you do not know whether they have epilepsy.
- They are pregnant, or have diabetes.
A person who has epilepsy and has a short seizure that is usual for them may not need an ambulance, especially if they have a seizure plan from their doctor. If in doubt, call.
Seizures in babies and young children
Some young children have a seizure when they have a high fever. This is often called a febrile seizure. The first aid is the same: stay calm, keep the child safe on a soft surface, turn them on their side, do not put anything in their mouth and do not put them in a bath or under water to cool them down. Time the seizure. If it is your child's first seizure, if it lasts more than 5 minutes, or if your child has trouble breathing or does not wake up properly afterwards, call 112. Even if the child seems fine afterwards, a doctor should check them to find the cause of the fever.
After the seizure
- People are often tired, confused, embarrassed or have a headache afterwards. Let them rest, and offer to call a family member.
- Do not let them drive, swim, cook or go home alone until they are fully recovered.
- Note the time it started and stopped and what it looked like. If the person agrees beforehand, a short video taken by a family member can help their doctor.
- Encourage them to tell their doctor about the seizure, especially if seizures are new or have become more frequent.
If you have epilepsy: help others help you
- Ask your neurologist for a written seizure plan, including what to do if a seizure lasts longer than usual. Some people are prescribed emergency medicine for this; use it only exactly as your doctor has told you.
- Show family, friends, teachers and colleagues what your seizures look like and share this guide with them.
- Carry a card with your name, emergency contact and the fact that you have epilepsy.
- Never stop or change your epilepsy medicine without your doctor.
Living with the fear of seizures can be draining. Epilepsy counselling can help, and our main epilepsy page explains what an online neurologist or psychiatrist consultation can do. You can also find others who understand through epilepsy support groups in India.
Printable seizure first-aid card (English)
| DO | DO NOT | CALL 112 IF |
|---|---|---|
| Stay calm and stay with them. Time the seizure. | Put anything in the mouth, not even water or medicine. | It lasts more than 5 minutes. |
| Move hard or sharp things away. Cushion the head. | Hold them down or stop the movements. | Seizures repeat without waking in between. |
| Loosen tight clothing at the neck. Remove glasses. | Use a shoe, onion or keys. They do not help. | Breathing is difficult, or they do not wake up. |
| When the jerking stops, turn them onto their side. | Give food or drink until fully awake. | They are injured, or it happened in water. |
| Stay until fully awake. Reassure them. | Leave them alone. | It is a first seizure, or they are pregnant or diabetic. |
दौरा पड़ने पर प्राथमिक उपचार (हिंदी कार्ड)
क्या करें:
- शांत रहें और व्यक्ति के साथ रहें। समय देखें कि दौरा कितनी देर चला।
- आस-पास की सख़्त या नुकीली चीज़ें हटा दें। सिर के नीचे कोई नरम चीज़ रखें।
- गले के पास कसे कपड़े ढीले करें और चश्मा उतार दें।
- झटके रुकने पर व्यक्ति को धीरे से करवट से (एक तरफ़) लिटा दें।
- पूरी तरह होश आने तक साथ रहें और शांति से बताएँ कि क्या हुआ।
क्या न करें:
- मुँह में कुछ भी न डालें: न चम्मच, न उँगली, न पानी, न दवा।
- व्यक्ति को ज़ोर से पकड़ें या दबाएँ नहीं।
- जूता या प्याज़ न सुँघाएँ, हाथ में चाबी न पकड़ाएँ। इनसे दौरा नहीं रुकता।
- पूरी तरह होश आने तक कुछ खाने-पीने को न दें।
112 पर तुरंत कॉल करें अगर:
- दौरा 5 मिनट से ज़्यादा चले, या एक के बाद एक दौरे पड़ें।
- साँस लेने में तकलीफ़ हो या दौरे के बाद होश न आए।
- चोट लगी हो, दौरा पानी में पड़ा हो, या यह पहला दौरा हो।
- व्यक्ति गर्भवती हो या उसे डायबिटीज़ हो।
For mental health support at any time, Tele-MANAS is free on 14416. More urgent contacts are on our crisis help page.
Written by the Mindara editorial team. Sources: CDC "First Aid for Seizures"; NHS (UK) "What to do if someone has a seizure (fit)"; Epilepsy Foundation (US) "Stay, Safe, Side". Checked on 19 October 2026. This is general first-aid information, not medical advice.
