What to Do If Someone You Care For Has a Seizure

The Lurie Center for Autism can help you manage the seizure disorder of someone you care for. If they have a seizure or something that looks like a seizure, answer the questions on this webpage.

Possible seizure triggers

• Not sleeping enough
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Viral illness or infection
• Missed doses of anti-seizure medications
• Menstrual periods (in girls and women)

1. Is this the person's first seizure?

Yes    |    No

If yes, go to question 2. If no, answer the following questions:

• When was the last seizure? ____________________
• What do the seizures usually look like? ____________________

2. Answer these questions about the seizure

• How long did the seizure last? ____________________
• What time did the seizure happen? ____________________
• When was the person's last anti-seizure medication dose? ____________________
• When is the next dose? ____________________
• Did the person hurt themselves during the seizure? If yes, how so? ____________________
• Did the person fall asleep or become very drowsy after the seizure? If yes, for how long? ____________________
• Did you notice any warning signs of the seizure before it happened?
  

  Yes

  No

  If yes, what did you notice? ____________________

3. Circle all of the person's seizure symptoms

Important Things to Know about Seizures

What to do during the seizure

• Stay calm and track the time. Make sure the person is safe before answering the questions on this handout.
• Stay with the person until the seizure stops or until they are awake again.
• Keep the person upright or on their side. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth.
• If the person is about to fall, lower them onto a chair on the ground.

What to do after the seizure

• If this is the person's first seizure, are having trouble breathing or have hurt themselves, call 911.

Rev. 4/2018

Reviewed by the MGfC Family Advisory Council

Mass General for Children and Massachusetts General Hospital do not endorse any of the brands listed on this handout. This handout is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.