Seeing someone suddenly fall, lose awareness, become stiff, or have repeated jerking movements can be frightening. Your first reaction may be to hold the person down, put something in their mouth, or give them water. However, some common reactions can actually cause injuries.
The most important principles of seizure first aid are simple:
Stay calm. Keep the person safe. Time the seizure. Protect their airway. Stay with them until they recover.
Most seizures end on their own within a few minutes. The immediate goal is not to stop the seizure by force but to prevent injury and recognize when emergency medical help is required. The Epilepsy Foundation recommends the STAY–SAFE–SIDE approach to seizure first aid.
If you live in Hyderabad and someone in your family has recurrent seizures, understanding these steps can make an important difference while professional medical care is being arranged.
A seizure is a temporary episode caused by abnormal excessive or synchronous electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can look very different from one person to another.
Some people may:
A seizure and epilepsy are not necessarily the same thing. A seizure is an event, whereas epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by an enduring tendency to have epileptic seizures.
This distinction is important because a person having one seizure does not automatically mean that they have epilepsy.
The first step is to remain calm.
Do not leave the person alone unless you need to get emergency assistance.
Speak calmly and reassure them. Even when someone appears unconscious during a seizure, staying nearby helps you observe what is happening and determine when the seizure stops.
The Epilepsy Foundation recommends staying with the person and timing the seizure from beginning to end.
Look at the clock or start a timer as soon as the seizure begins.
This is one of the most useful things a bystander can do.
Record:
A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency and requires emergency assistance.
If possible, a short video taken safely from a distance may also provide useful information to a neurologist later. Never delay emergency care just to record a seizure.
If the person is standing or near a dangerous location, guide them away from immediate hazards if you can do so safely.
Move nearby objects such as:
If the person is already on the ground, place something soft under their head if possible.
Do not attempt to completely restrain their movements.
The aim is to make the surrounding area safer rather than trying to physically stop the seizure.
One of the most common mistakes during a seizure is trying to hold the person's body still.
Do not:
Seizure movements are involuntary. Trying to restrain the person can cause additional injuries to their muscles, joints, or bones.
Instead, clear the surrounding area and allow the seizure to run its course while protecting the person from nearby hazards.
This is extremely important.
Do not put anything inside the person's mouth during a seizure.
That includes:
The person cannot "swallow their tongue." Putting an object into the mouth can cause choking, dental injuries, or injury to the person trying to help.
The Epilepsy Foundation specifically advises against putting anything in the mouth and against giving food, water, or pills until the person is awake.
If the person is wearing a tight collar, tie, scarf, or similar clothing around the neck, loosen it if this can be done safely.
This may make breathing more comfortable.
Do not crowd around the person. Ask unnecessary bystanders to give them some space.
After the active convulsions have stopped, if the person is breathing but remains unconscious or very drowsy, carefully place them on their side in the recovery position, when safe to do so.
This can help keep the airway clear and reduce the risk of choking on fluids or vomit.
A simple approach is:
Do not force a person into a position that could worsen an existing injury.
Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do.
Keys, spoons, coins, iron objects, or other items do not stop a seizure.
You could be seriously bitten, and it will not help stop the seizure.
A person who is unconscious or having a seizure may aspirate liquid into the lungs.
Wait until the person is awake and able to swallow safely, unless a prescribed emergency medication is being administered according to their established seizure action plan.
Trying to stop involuntary movements can cause injury.
Focus first on keeping the area safe and monitoring the person. If the seizure has stopped and the person is not breathing normally, emergency medical assistance and appropriate CPR should be initiated by someone trained to do so.
Stay with them until they are sufficiently awake, responsive, and safe.
Not every seizure requires an ambulance, particularly when a person with diagnosed epilepsy has a known seizure plan and the episode follows their usual pattern.
However, emergency medical help is important in several situations.
The Epilepsy Foundation identifies prolonged seizures, repeated seizures, breathing difficulty, injury, pregnancy, seizures in water, first seizures, and failure to recover as reasons to seek emergency help.
In India, 112 is the nationwide emergency number, while Telangana's official emergency contacts also list 108 for ambulance services.
A seizure in water requires particular caution.
The priority is to prevent drowning and get emergency medical assistance.
If possible and safe:
A seizure occurring in water is specifically recognized as an emergency situation requiring medical help.
A first suspected seizure should be medically evaluated.
There are many possible causes of seizure-like episodes, and not every episode involving shaking or loss of awareness is epilepsy.
A neurologist may need to understand:
Epilepsy diagnosis is based on clinical information and appropriate neurological assessment rather than simply assuming that every seizure-like event means epilepsy. The International League Against Epilepsy provides formal definitions and classification frameworks for seizures and epilepsy.
The period after a seizure is often called the postictal period.
The person may temporarily experience:
Give them time to recover.
Stay nearby and reassure them.
When they are fully alert and able to communicate, explain briefly what happened. Avoid overwhelming them with questions immediately.
If they have a known seizure action plan, follow it as instructed.
Do not automatically give tablets, food, or water while the person is still unconscious or unable to swallow safely.
If the person has been prescribed a rescue medication and you have been specifically trained or instructed by their healthcare professional on when and how to administer it, follow that seizure action plan.
Do not change, skip, double, or stop regular anti-seizure medication based on what happened during one episode without medical advice.
The correct treatment depends on the individual's seizure type, epilepsy diagnosis, medical history, and treatment plan.
A seizure should not simply be ignored once the immediate emergency has passed.
You should consider neurological evaluation if:
This is particularly important when seizures continue despite appropriate treatment.
Searching online for the Best Epilepsy specialist in Hyderabad can produce many names, but the right doctor should be chosen based on the patient's specific needs rather than a ranking alone.
Consider asking:
Epilepsy can require specialized knowledge of seizure classification, diagnosis, anti-seizure medicines, and treatment planning.
Adult and pediatric epilepsy can involve different diagnostic and treatment considerations.
If seizures continue despite medication, ask whether the specialist evaluates patients with potentially drug-resistant epilepsy.
Depending on the case, evaluation may involve EEG, brain imaging, blood tests, prolonged video-EEG monitoring, or other investigations.
Good epilepsy care involves communication, shared decision-making, medication counseling, seizure-safety advice, and appropriate follow-up.
For patients looking for an epilepsy specialist in Hyderabad, Dr. Sagari Gullapalli's professional background includes specific training in epilepsy.
According to her official profile, Dr. Sagari Gullapalli completed her MBBS and MD in Pediatrics at NTR University of Health Sciences, followed by DM Neurology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, and a Fellowship in Epilepsy at Amrita Advanced Centre for Epilepsy, Kochi, Kerala. Her practice includes neurology care for both adults and children, with epilepsy and pediatric epilepsy listed among her services.
She is also listed as a Consultant Neurologist at Yashoda Hospital, Hi-Tech City, Hyderabad, and her profile states that she is a member of the Indian Epilepsy Society, Indian Academy of Neurology, and Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
This combination of neurology training and dedicated epilepsy fellowship is particularly relevant for patients seeking evaluation of seizures or ongoing epilepsy management.
Before visiting an epilepsy specialist, maintain a record of the episodes whenever possible.
Bring:
A detailed seizure history can help the neurologist understand the pattern and determine whether further evaluation is required.
Not always.
For people who already have epilepsy, taking prescribed medication consistently and following an individualized treatment plan are important parts of seizure management.
Depending on the individual, doctors may also discuss factors such as:
Do not stop anti-seizure medication suddenly unless specifically instructed by your treating doctor.
Remember:
STAY
Stay with the person and remain calm.
TIME
Start timing the seizure.
SAFE
Move dangerous objects away and protect the person's head.
SIDE
After active convulsions stop, place the person on their side if appropriate and safe.
NOTHING IN THE MOUTH
Never put keys, metal objects, fingers, water, food, or other objects in their mouth.
NO RESTRAINT
Do not hold their arms or legs down.
CALL FOR HELP
Seek emergency assistance if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, repeats without recovery, causes serious injury, affects breathing, occurs in water, is a first seizure, or the person does not recover normally.
Stay calm, stay with them, time the seizure, remove nearby hazards, protect their head, avoid restraining them, and never put anything in their mouth. After the active seizure stops, place them on their side if appropriate and stay with them while they recover.
No. Never put a spoon, key, coin, finger, cloth, or any other object in the person's mouth. It can cause injury or choking and does not stop the seizure.
No. Do not give water, food, or oral medication while the person is unconscious or unable to swallow safely. Wait until they have recovered sufficiently.
A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency. Repeated seizures without recovery between them also require emergency medical assistance.
Not necessarily. A seizure is an event, while epilepsy is a neurological disease involving an enduring predisposition to epileptic seizures. A person with a first suspected seizure should receive appropriate medical evaluation.
Consider specialist evaluation after a first seizure, recurrent seizures, breakthrough seizures despite medication, uncertain diagnosis, troublesome medication effects, or when a patient may need evaluation for difficult-to-control epilepsy.
Yes. Epilepsy can affect people at different ages, including children. Pediatric seizures can have different causes and presentations, so children with suspected seizures should receive age-appropriate neurological evaluation.
Knowing what to do during a seizure can prevent unnecessary injuries and may help you recognize a medical emergency.
Remember the basics:
Stay calm. Time the seizure. Keep the person safe. Do not restrain them. Put nothing in their mouth. Protect their airway after the seizure. Stay with them until they recover.
And if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, repeats without recovery, causes serious injury, affects breathing, occurs in water, or is a first seizure, seek emergency medical help immediately.
For people experiencing recurrent or unexplained seizures, first aid is only the beginning. Proper diagnosis and long-term management are essential. If you are searching for the Best Epilepsy specialist in Hyderabad, a neurologist with dedicated epilepsy training can help determine the cause of seizures and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Dr. Sagari Gullapalli provides neurological care for adults and children, with specific epilepsy training through her Fellowship in Epilepsy from Amrita Advanced Centre for Epilepsy.
Book a neurological consultation:
Dr. Sagari Gullapalli – Official Website
This article is intended for general health education and first-aid awareness. It does not replace emergency medical care, a neurological evaluation, or an individualized seizure management plan. If someone is experiencing a prolonged seizure, breathing difficulty, serious injury, or another medical emergency, seek immediate emergency assistance.