What do seizures look like?

Tonic-Clonic Seizures

A convulsive or tonic-clonic seizure starts when someone loses consciousness, stiffens unexpectedly, falls to the ground and starts jerking.

How to help:
Stay calm
Time the seizure
Remove any hard objects from the area
Place something soft under the head
Loosen any tight clothing
Do not restrain the person’s movements
Do not force anything into the mouth
Roll the person onto their side to allow excess saliva to drain from the mouth
Offer support and reassurance after the seizure
Allow the person to rest until they have fully recovered

Call an ambulance if:
The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
The person fails to regain consciousness
One seizure follows another
The person has been injured
The seizure occurred in water
It is the person’s first seizure
The person has diabetes or is pregnant

Non-convulsive seizures

Not all seizures are convulsive. Non-convulsive seizures include complex partial seizures and absence seizures.

Complex Partial seizures

In complex partial seizures the person may appear unresponsive and confused. Automatic movements such as smacking of the lips, wandering, or fumbling movements of the hand may be present. He or she may display inappropriate behaviour that may be mistaken for alcohol or drug intoxication.

How to help:
Stay with the person
Talk calmly and in a reassuring manner to the person
Protect the person from harm
Do not restrain the person
Help reorientate after the seizure has finished

Call an ambulance if:
The seizure lasts more than 10 minutes
The person has been injured

Absence seizures

In absence seizures the person loses awareness for a brief period. The person stares vacantly, the eyes may drift upwards and flicker. It may be mistaken for daydreaming.

How to help:
Reassure the person and repeat any information that they may have missed.