August 29, 2025
Seeing a coworker suddenly collapse, convulse, or stare blankly mid-conversation is frightening. Your first instinct might be to panic, shout for help, or (and please don’t) try to stick something in their mouth. That instinct is rooted in good intentions, but good intentions don’t always equal good response.
Seizures are medical events, not spectacles. And while they look alarming, most seizures are not life-threatening if handled properly. The difference between chaos and calm often comes down to whether bystanders know what to do in those critical few minutes.
So let’s cut through the myths, ditch the panic, and talk about how to keep someone safe, support them through the episode, and help restore dignity once it’s over.
The number one rule when someone has a seizure is simple: don’t fight the seizure. You cannot stop it by holding the person down, shouting at them, or trying to “wake them up.” What you can do is make the environment safer.
Think of yourself as a safety bubble creator. Your job is to clear the surrounding area, not to interfere with what their body is already doing.
Here’s the thing: most seizures look longer than they actually last. To an anxious bystander, 45 seconds can feel like five minutes. That’s why timing is critical.
When to call emergency services? If the seizure lasts more than five minutes, if it’s their first known seizure, or if one seizure rolls into another without recovery. These are red flags that need immediate professional intervention.
The seizure itself is only part of the story. What happens in the moments after can shape how safe, respected, and supported someone feels.
Dignity matters. Emergencies can strip people of control, and your role is to return as much of it as possible once the episode ends.
Not every seizure requires a trip to the ER, but knowing when to escalate is essential:
Without training, most people either freeze or flail when faced with a seizure. They want to help, but myths and fear get in the way. Training flips that script. It gives employees the clarity to act decisively, the calm to reassure others, and the confidence to support someone with dignity.
According to CDC, about 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime. That means seizures are not rare, and the odds of witnessing one in the workplace are higher than many think.
When employees are trained, seizures stop being “scary mysteries” and become events they know how to manage safely. That shift is not just good for safety, it’s good for culture. A workplace where people support each other in vulnerable moments is a workplace people trust.
Seeing a seizure is unsettling. But your reaction doesn’t have to be. Clear the space, time the episode, offer gentle support, and stay until recovery. Avoid myths like restraining the person or putting objects in their mouth. And most importantly, remember that dignity and calm matter as much as safety.
Seizures may arrive without warning, but your response doesn’t have to be improvised. With preparation, awareness, and a steady presence, you can turn a frightening moment into one where safety, humanity, and calm prevail.
