What do you do if you are around someone having a seizure? If you’ve had a seizure, what lifestyle changes do you need to make to reduce your risk of further injury? These are important questions to consider when dealing with epilepsy.

Jaishree Narayanan, MD, Neurologist at NorthShore, provides her insight on ways to assist someone having a seizure and what you should do after suffering from a seizure:

Seizure Assistance
Aside from never putting anything into a person’s mouth suffering from a seizure or forcibly holding them down, the following guidelines (TRUST) should be followed:   

• Turn the person onto his or her side (the left side is best).
• Remove all harmful objects from the episode area.
• Use something soft (such as a pillow, blanket or sweatshirt) under the person’s head.
• Stay calm.
• Time the seizure. If the seizure lasts more than five minutes or multiple seizures are observed, call 911 immediately.

After a Seizure: Precautions to Consider
After suffering from a seizure it is important to limit your risk for injury if another episode should occur. This can be done by following the precautions below:

• Do not drive for a period of 3-6 months after a seizure.
• Do not take unsupervised baths.
• Do not go swimming without someone by your side with close supervision. 
• Do not climb up roof tops, ladders or onto other elevated areas.
• Do not work with live electrical wires or operate machinery. 
• Do not engage in any activities that would put you or people around you in danger due to your seizures.

Were the above tips helpful? Would you feel comfortable knowing what to do now if someone around you was suffering from a seizure?

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Have questions about seizures and epilepsy? Read our online chat transcript on the topic.