Should I put something in the mouth to stop them biting their tongue?

No, never. It is impossible to swallow the tongue, and objects or fingers can break teeth, be bitten off, or block the airway. Tongue bites heal on their own.

When should I call 995 for a seizure?

Time it. Call 995 if a convulsive seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if a second seizure begins before the person recovers, or for a first-ever seizure, injury, breathing trouble, a seizure in water, or if the person is pregnant or has diabetes.

My child had a seizure with a fever — what is that?

It is likely a febrile seizure, common in children aged about 6 months to 5 years during a high fever. Keep them safe on their side, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, and time it. Call 995 if it lasts over 5 minutes or is the first, and see a doctor for the cause of the fever.

What about a seizure where the person just stares or seems confused?

That may be a focal or absence seizure. Do not grab or restrain them, which can frighten them. Gently guide them away from danger, speak calmly, and stay with them until they are fully aware again.

What should I do after the seizure ends?

Roll them onto their side in the recovery position, check breathing, stay with them, and reassure them as they come round. Let them rest, and give nothing to eat or drink until they are fully alert. Call 995 if they do not come round or something seems wrong.

Seizure First Aid: How to Help (Singapore)

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 22 Aug 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. Most seizures stop on their own within a few minutes and do not need an ambulance. During a convulsive (tonic-clonic) seizure, your job is to stay calm, keep the person safe from injury, and time the seizure. Do not restrain them and do not put anything in their mouth. Once the jerking stops, gently roll them into the recovery position, check their breathing, and stay with them until they are fully recovered. Call 995 immediately if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if one follows another without recovery, or if any other danger sign is present.

Seeing a seizure can be frightening, but simple, calm action keeps the person safe. The two most important things are to protect them from injury and to note the time it starts – because the decision to call 995 hinges on how long it lasts.

Step by step (convulsive seizure)

Stay calm and note the time the seizure starts – this is the single most useful thing you can do.
Clear the area – move away hard, sharp or hot objects.
Cushion the head with something soft (a folded jacket or your hands).
Loosen anything tight around the neck, such as a collar or scarf.
Do not restrain the person or try to stop their movements, and do not put anything in their mouth.
Don’t move them unless they are in genuine danger (road, water, fire, an edge).
Look for medical ID jewellery or a card that may explain their condition.
When the jerking stops, gently roll them onto their side into the recovery position so saliva can drain and the airway stays clear.
Check breathing is returning to normal. If they are not breathing normally, call 995 and start CPR.
Stay with them and reassure them as they come round – they may be confused, drowsy or embarrassed. Don’t give food or drink until they are fully alert.

When to call 995

Call 995 immediately if: the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes (Singapore’s NNI phrases this as 3–5 minutes – use 5 minutes as the clear action threshold); one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between; it is a first-ever seizure or you don’t know they have epilepsy; they are badly injured; they have difficulty breathing afterwards; the seizure happened in water; the person is pregnant or has diabetes; or they do not regain consciousness after the convulsions stop.

Do and don’t

Do: stay calm and time it; protect from injury and cushion the head; loosen tight clothing at the neck; place in the recovery position after convulsions stop and check breathing; stay until fully recovered and reassure them.

Don’t: restrain or hold the person down; put anything in their mouth (they cannot swallow their tongue – objects break teeth and block the airway); move them unless in danger; give food or drink until fully alert; or crowd around them.

Children, and non-convulsive seizures

A seizure with a high fever in a young child (roughly 6 months to 5 years) is often a febrile seizure: keep the child safe, lay them on their side, don’t restrain or put anything in the mouth, and time it. These are usually brief, but call 995 if it lasts over 5 minutes or is the first one, and see a doctor to find the cause of the fever. For focal or absence seizures – where the person stares, plucks at clothing or seems confused rather than convulsing – do not grab or restrain them; gently guide them from danger, speak calmly, and stay until they are fully aware. See our guide to epilepsy and seizures.

Related first-aid & emergency guides

Related condition guides

Sources

HealthHub / National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), Singapore — Epilepsy and Seizures (turn to the side, cushion the head, loosen neck clothing, call 995 for prolonged seizures).
Singapore Epilepsy Foundation — seizure first aid (don’t restrain, don’t put anything in the mouth, seek help if a seizure lasts over 5 minutes or repeats).
SCDF Emergency Handbook — 995 and unconscious-casualty procedure.
Epilepsy Society / Epilepsy Action (UK) — the five-minute rule, full ambulance-call criteria, and febrile/focal seizure guidance.

In an emergency, call 995 (ambulance/fire) in Singapore — or 999 for police. This guide is general first-aid information, not a substitute for certified training or professional medical care. Consider a hands-on first-aid and CPR+AED course accredited by the Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC). If you are untrained, a 995 call-taker can coach you through what to do.

Seizure First Aid in Singapore: How to Help Someone Having a Seizure