Seizures in Children (cont.)
Self-Care at Home
Your initial efforts should be directed first at protecting the child from additionally injuring himself or herself.
- Help the child to lie down.
- Remove glasses or other harmful objects in the area.
- Do not try to put anything in the child's mouth. In doing so, you may injure the child or yourself.
- Immediately check if the child is breathing. Call 911 to obtain medical assistance if the child is not breathing.
- After the seizure ends, place the child on one side and stay with the child until he or she is fully awake. Observe the child for breathing. If he or she is not breathing within 1 minute after the seizure stops, then start mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing (CPR). Do not try to do rescue breathing for the child during a convulsive seizure, because you may injure the child or yourself.
- If the child has a fever, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may be given rectally.
- Do not try to give food, liquid, or medications by mouth to a child who has just had a seizure.
- Children with known epilepsy should also be prevented from further injury by moving away solid objects in the area of the child. If you have discussed use of rectal medication (for example, Valium) with your child's doctor, give the child the correct dose.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 6/10/2014
Frank L Christopher, MD, FAAEM
Robert R Westermeyer II, MD, FAAEM
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Thomas Rebbecchi, MD, FAAEM
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