Quick answer. Caring for someone with epilepsy centres on knowing seizure first aid and when to get emergency help. During a convulsive seizure: stay calm, time it, cushion the head, and move hazards away – and never restrain the person or put anything in their mouth. Once the jerking stops, put them in the recovery position and stay until they recover. Call 995 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if seizures repeat without recovery, if it is a first seizure, if the person is injured, cannot breathe, does not come round, has a seizure in water, or is pregnant. Beyond first aid, support their independence, help with medication routines, and look after yourself.
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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.
Seizure first aid: what to do
If someone has a convulsive (tonic-clonic) seizure, a few calm actions keep them safe. Stay calm and stay with them, being reassuring. Time the seizure – check the clock the moment it starts, as this decides whether to call 995. Cushion their head with something soft, or cup it in your hands. Protect them from injury by moving hard or sharp objects away; only move the person themselves if they are somewhere dangerous, such as a road, water, or the top of stairs. These simple steps prevent most seizure-related injuries and let the seizure run its course safely.
After the seizure
Once the jerking or convulsive movements have stopped, gently roll the person onto their side into the recovery position, and check that their breathing is returning to normal. Stay with them until they have fully recovered, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. They may be confused, tired, or upset as they come round, so keep reassuring them and give them time and space. Do not rush them or overwhelm them with questions. A calm, patient presence during recovery is just as important as the first aid during the seizure itself, and it helps them feel safe.
Seizure first aid: what NOT to do
Just as important as what to do is what to avoid, because some instinctive reactions can cause harm. Do not hold the person down or restrain them – let the seizure happen. Do not put anything in their mouth; contrary to a common myth, a person cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure, and putting objects or fingers in the mouth risks injury to both of you. Do not give them anything to eat or drink until you are sure they have fully recovered, because of the risk of choking. And do not try to “bring them round” or move them unless they are in danger. Getting these “don’ts” right is essential.
When to call 995
Knowing when a seizure is an emergency is vital. Call 995 for an ambulance if: a convulsive seizure lasts more than 5 minutes (or two minutes longer than is usual for that person, or you do not know how long their seizures usually last); one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between; it is their first-ever or first known seizure; they are injured during the seizure; they have difficulty breathing afterwards; they do not regain consciousness or return to their usual state; the seizure happens in water; or the person is pregnant or has diabetes. A seizure of five minutes or more, or repeated seizures without recovery, is status epilepticus – a medical emergency.
Knowing the person’s usual pattern
Because the emergency threshold partly depends on what is normal for the individual, it helps to know the person’s usual seizure length and their personal plan for when to call 995. Some people have a written seizure action plan from their epilepsy team, which is well worth being familiar with. Make sure that everyone who spends time with the person – family, colleagues, teachers or friends – knows the basic first-aid steps and the emergency criteria. Having this shared understanding means that whoever is present when a seizure happens can respond calmly and correctly, which keeps the person safe and reduces panic for everyone.
Supporting day to day
Beyond seizures themselves, good care supports the person’s independence rather than over-restricting them. Most people with epilepsy live full lives, so the aim is to balance sensible safety with autonomy and dignity, letting the person lead on how much help they want. Practical safety – awareness around water, heights and cooking, and attention to triggers such as poor sleep, missed medication, alcohol and stress – matters, but without inventing rigid rules. Helping with medication routines and reminders, so doses are not missed, is one of the most valuable things a carer can do, while never adjusting or stopping medication without the doctor.
Recording seizures
Keeping a seizure diary is genuinely useful, both for the person and their care team. Recording the date, time and duration of each seizure, what happened beforehand (including possible triggers and sleep), what the seizure looked like, how long recovery took, and any injury gives the neurology team real information to guide treatment. A video recording, made with the person’s consent, can also help with diagnosis and with getting treatment right. This record turns scattered impressions into useful patterns, and bringing it to reviews makes appointments far more productive. As a carer, you are often well placed to help keep this diary accurate.
Looking after yourself
Caring for someone with epilepsy can be demanding, and carer stress, anxiety, low mood and burnout are real and common. Looking after your own sleep, health and support network, taking breaks, and seeking help early are not luxuries but necessities – supporting the carer protects the person with epilepsy too. In Singapore, the Caregivers Alliance offers caregiver training and support, and the Agency for Integrated Care can help with services. If you ever feel overwhelmed, or have thoughts of harming yourself, reach out immediately: the Samaritans of Singapore are on 1767 and mindline.sg on 1771, with 995 for emergencies.
Getting support in Singapore
You do not have to do this alone. In Singapore, the National Neuroscience Institute provides specialist epilepsy care and epilepsy nurse support, and the Epilepsy Care Group offers education and support for people with epilepsy and their caregivers. SG Enable can advise on disability support. Learning seizure first aid, knowing the person’s emergency plan, supporting their independence, and looking after your own wellbeing together make you a confident, effective carer. And the core rule is always the same: a convulsive seizure over five minutes, or repeated seizures without recovery, means calling 995 without delay.
Related epilepsy topics
- Living with epilepsy
- Understanding epilepsy: seizure types & diagnosis
- Medication & managing treatment
- Triggers & managing seizures
- Staying safe at home & outdoors
- Driving, work & daily life
- SUDEP & epilepsy safety
- Women, pregnancy & epilepsy
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Seizure first aid
- Neurologists in Singapore
Sources
- Epilepsy Society – First aid for epileptic seizures: epilepsysociety.org.uk
- Epilepsy Action – Tonic-clonic (convulsive) seizures first aid: epilepsy.org.uk
- NHS – Epilepsy: nhs.uk
- Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) – 1767: sos.org.sg
- mindline.sg – 1771: mindline.sg