What should you do if a patient has a seizure?

What should you do if a patient has a seizure?

• A. Stay calm, cushion their head, turn them on their side, and time the seizure; call 911 if it lasts more than 5 minutes.
• B. Restrain the person during the seizure.
• C. Give water to drink during the seizure.
• D. Administer aspirin immediately.

Answer: (D)

When someone has a seizure, the priority is safety and keeping the airway clear while the person is convulsing. The most appropriate actions are to stay calm, gently cushion their head to protect from injury, turn them onto their side if possible to prevent choking on saliva or vomit, and time how long the seizure lasts. If it continues beyond a few minutes—commonly six minutes or less is used as a threshold in many guidelines—call emergency services. This approach minimizes harm during the event and ensures they get help if the seizure is prolonged. Restraint during a seizure can cause injuries to both the person and the rescuer, so it’s not recommended. Giving water or any food during the seizure can pose a choking hazard or aspiration risk. Administering aspirin during a seizure has no acute benefit and could cause unnecessary bleeding risk if there’s an underlying injury or if medical care is needed afterward. After the seizure ends, check for responsiveness and breathing, stay with the person, and seek further medical evaluation if they’re not fully awake, injured, or if it was a first-time seizure.

When someone has a seizure, the priority is safety and keeping the airway clear while the person is convulsing. The most appropriate actions are to stay calm, gently cushion their head to protect from injury, turn them onto their side if possible to prevent choking on saliva or vomit, and time how long the seizure lasts. If it continues beyond a few minutes—commonly six minutes or less is used as a threshold in many guidelines—call emergency services. This approach minimizes harm during the event and ensures they get help if the seizure is prolonged.

Restraint during a seizure can cause injuries to both the person and the rescuer, so it’s not recommended. Giving water or any food during the seizure can pose a choking hazard or aspiration risk. Administering aspirin during a seizure has no acute benefit and could cause unnecessary bleeding risk if there’s an underlying injury or if medical care is needed afterward. After the seizure ends, check for responsiveness and breathing, stay with the person, and seek further medical evaluation if they’re not fully awake, injured, or if it was a first-time seizure.