Getting Emergency Help

Getting Help for a Seizure Emergency

Call an ambulance if:

• A seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer.
• One seizure occurs right after another without the person fully regaining consciousness between seizures.
• Seizures occur closer together than usual for that person.
• The person’s breathing becomes difficult, or the person appears to be choking.
• The seizure occurs in water.
• If an injury occurred.
• The person asks for medical help.

Remember, you don’t need to call an ambulance for every seizure. Most seizures end on their own within 1-3 minutes.

When should I call an ambulance?

An ambulance is needed if:

• A person has a life-threatening seizure
• A person has breathing or heart problems during or after a seizure
• There is serious injury