Health Tip: Seizure First Aid

(HealthDay News) — More than 3 million people in the U.S. have some form of epilepsy, says the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Seizures can last from seconds to minutes, and can cause convulsions.

For convulsion-inducing seizures, here are suggestions for general first aid:

  • Cushion the head and remove any glasses.
  • Loosen tight clothing.
  • Turn the person on his or her side.
  • Time the seizure.
  • Don’t put anything in the mouth.
  • Look for a form of identification.
  • Do not hold the person down.
  • Offer help as the seizure ends.

If a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, the Epilepsy Foundation urges bystanders to call 911.