What to do if someone has an epileptic seizure

More than half of people with epilepsy experience seizures, so it's essential you know what to do when it happens

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Every day, 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy. That means roughly 600,000 people are living with the neurological condition in the UK. Although up to 70% of them could be seizure-free with the right treatment, only 52% of people with epilepsy currently are. That means that nearly 300,000 people have or will experience seizures in their lifetime.

For such a common occurrence, it's still a relatively misunderstood condition that can make individuals feel isolated and embarrassed. Research conducted by Epilepsy Action showed that 19% of people with epilepsy said they feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable talking about their epilepsy with friends. Even more worryingly, 14% feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable talking about their epilepsy even with their family. Philip Lee, chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said:

"It's frustrating to hear that many people with epilepsy feel embarrassed talking about it, and worry that they will be discriminated against if they do."

Signs of an epileptic seizure

Depending on the area of the brain affected, people with epilepsy can experience various types of fits. There over 40 different types of seizures but the one most commonly associated with epilepsy is called a "tonic-clonic seizure'. These types of convulsions cause loss of consciousness and sometimes bladder control. They have two stages to them; the first will cause your body to become stiff, the second will see your arms and legs twitch or jerk.

What to do

Epilepsy Action recommends the ACTION steps for tonic-clonic seizures, which are as follows:

A - Assess


C - Cushion


T - Time


I - Identity

Look for a medical bracelet or ID card – it may give you information about the person's seizures and what to do

O - Over


N - Never


Not all seizures involve losing consciousness, so it's important to know the signs when someone is experiencing a focal or partial seizure. They may start acting erratically and be unaware of their surroundings. Other symptoms include smacking their lips, swallowing repeatedly, wandering around and even plucking at their clothes. If you are with someone or notice someone behaving this way, follow the below advice:


  • Guide the person from danger
  • Stay with the person until recovery is complete
  • Be calmly reassuring
  • Explain anything that they may have missed


    • Restrain the person
    • Assume the person is aware of what is happening, or what has happened
    • Give the person anything to eat or drink until they are fully recovered
    • Attempt to bring them round

      Of course, not all seizures are caused by epilepsy and it can be near impossible for a random passerby to know. If the person has been diagnosed with epilepsy, they may wear a medical-alert bracelet or carry a card with them.

      When to call an ambulance:

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      Your initial instinct when you see someone having a fit might be to call 999, but this isn't actually always necessary. As the main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures, they won't need to go to hospital for every one they get. Not only will there be little the hospital staff can do, but ending up on the other end of town can be very disruptive to the person. However, these are the circumstances in which hospital is required:

      • the seizure has not stopped after five minutes
      • the person has more than one seizure without recovering in between
      • you know it is the person's first seizure
      • the person's behaviour after a seizure is unsafe

        Make a difference

        April 26 is known globally as 'Purple Day'; a day dedicated to raising awareness around epilepsy and ended the embarrassment many associate with the condition. Lee explains

        "Epilepsy is certainly nothing to be embarrassed about and these findings highlight why days like Purple Day are so important to those living with epilepsy. The more we talk about epilepsy, the more we can challenge common misconceptions about it and offer the general public a clearer idea of what epilepsy is. We really hope Purple Day inspires people to share and talk about their epilepsy so that more people can begin to understand the condition."

        To find out more head over to https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/purple

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