Seizures (Fits): What to Do — and the Dangerous Myths to Avoid

Witnessing someone have a seizure is frightening, and old "remedies" can cause real harm. Learn the correct, simple first aid for a fit, the myths to never follow, and when it is an emergency.

Watching someone have a seizure — sudden stiffening, jerking, collapse, loss of awareness — is frightening, and in the panic, people often do exactly the wrong things: forcing objects into the mouth, restraining the person, crowding around. These well-meant "remedies" can cause real harm. The correct first aid is calm and simple, and mostly about keeping the person safe while the seizure passes on its own. Here is what to do, the myths to avoid, and when a seizure is an emergency.

What a Seizure Is

A seizure (or "fit") happens when there is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It can look like whole-body stiffening and jerking, or subtler forms like staring blankly, confusion, or brief unresponsiveness. Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes, and the main danger in the moment is injury from falling or hitting something — which is why safe first aid focuses on protecting the person, not "stopping" the seizure.

First Aid: What to Do (Stay Calm)

  1. Stay calm and keep the person safe — ease them to the ground if needed and move away hard or sharp objects.
  2. Cushion the head (a folded cloth/jacket) and loosen anything tight around the neck.
  3. Note the time the seizure starts — timing it matters (see emergency signs).
  4. Once the jerking eases or if they are unconscious, gently turn them onto their side (recovery position) to keep the airway clear.
  5. Stay with them as they come round; they may be confused or drowsy — reassure them calmly.
NEVER do these — they cause harm
  • Do NOT put anything (spoon, fingers, cloth, keys) in the mouth — you cannot "swallow your tongue", and this breaks teeth, causes injury, and is dangerous
  • Do NOT hold the person down or restrain their movements
  • Do NOT make them smell an onion/shoe/chilli or use folk remedies
  • Do NOT give food, water, or medicine until they are fully alert
  • Do not crowd around — give them space and air

When a Seizure Is an Emergency

Call for emergency help if
  • The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or one follows another without recovery in between
  • It is the person's first-ever seizure
  • They are injured, in water, pregnant, or have diabetes
  • They are not waking up / breathing normally after it stops
  • It happened after a head injury, or with high fever/illness

A prolonged seizure (over 5 minutes) is a genuine emergency needing urgent treatment — do not wait it out.

After a Seizure

It is normal for someone to be confused, tired, or have a headache for a while afterward — let them rest and recover, and reassure them. Someone with known epilepsy who has a typical short seizure and recovers as usual may not need emergency care each time, but should follow their agreed plan. A first seizure, or any of the emergency signs above, always needs medical assessment.

When to See a Doctor

Any first-time seizure needs a doctor to find the cause. Ongoing seizures (epilepsy) are very manageable with treatment, so see a neurologist if seizures are recurring, changing, or not well controlled — and treat a seizure lasting over 5 minutes, or one with the emergency signs above, as an emergency. Much of the ongoing management and review suits an online consultation well, with in-person tests as needed. Knowing the correct, calm first aid — and avoiding the harmful myths — genuinely protects someone during those frightening few minutes.

A note on sources General education based on trusted public health sources (NHS, epilepsy foundations, NIH). It does not replace medical care, which a first or prolonged seizure requires.

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