First Aid for Seizures: How To Manage and What To Do

model of a human brain

The Vital Facts

  • Around 10% of the Australian population experience a seizure in their lifetime
  • There are at least 60 different types of seizures
  • Seizures occur when there is an abrupt and temporary occurrence of abnormal electrical signals within the brain.

Seizures affect one in ten people during their lifetime, but most people are caught helpless when it happens to a family member or friend. 

Understanding the proper first aid for seizures can save lives, so here’s what you need to know about seizures and how you can help someone with life-saving first aid. 

Here’s a summary of what you’ll find below:

What Are Seizures?

According to Healthdirect Australia, seizures are defined as abnormal electrical activity in the nerve surrounding the brain. They can be caused by many factors, such as head injuries, brain infections, and adverse effects from drug or alcohol use. 

A common sign of seizure is the violent shaking of the body, but there are also many other symptoms of seizures such as: 

  • Loss of consciousness 
  • Disorientation or confusion, even hallucinations 
  • Tingling sensations and numbness around the body 
  • Being unresponsive and loss of concentrations (i.e. staring into space) 
  • Stiffening of the body
  • Repetitive movements such as smacking the lips
  • Jerking of the arms and legs 
  • Sudden and unexplainable heart rate increase 
  • Unnatural eye blinking or rolling upwards 

Constant seizures, which is defined as more than two seizures in 24 hours, is diagnosed as epilepsy. However, not all people with seizures have epilepsy. Studies show that 142,740 Australians were diagnosed with active epilepsy from 2019 to 2020. Of this number, 52% of them were male, and 48% were female.

Different Types of Seizures

The types of seizures vary depending on which part of the brain it originates from, the movement of the body, and if the person is lucid during the seizure. 

There are three main types of seizures: focal onset seizures, generalised onset seizures, and unknown onset. 

Focal Onset Seizures

Focal onset seizure, or focal seizure, is the most common type of seizure among people with epilepsy. It originates from one side of the brain and then spreads to other areas of the brain, and an episode of focal onset can last for around two minutes. 

People who are fully awake and alert during their seizure are known as focal aware. Meanwhile, those who suffer from loss of awareness or remain frozen during their seizures have focal impaired awareness

Generalised Onset Seizures

Generalised onset seizures begin from both sides of the brain simultaneously. This type of seizure is slightly more common among children and those with a family history of seizures. 

Generalised seizures can be further divided into two types. They are: 

  • Generalised motor seizures: Otherwise known as ‘grand mal’. These seizures cause stiffening and jerking in the body and loss of consciousness. It also may last from 1 to 3 minutes. 
  • Generalised non-motor seizures: Also known as ‘petit mal’. These seizures cause a loss of awareness, where the patient may often be seen staring into space. 

Unknown Onset Seizures

Unknown onset seizures are diagnosed when it’s unclear where the seizure originated in the brain. However, doctors can identify if the seizure is a motor (involves the muscle) or non-motor (does not involve the muscle) seizure. 

So how can we help somebody during an episode? Let’s go through some basic first aid for seizures, along with what NOT to do. 

First Aid For Seizures – Do’s and Don’ts 

First Aid For Seizures Infographic
Download This First Aid Resource For Seizures Here

Knowing the right thing to do during a seizure is crucial. So here are some do’s and don’ts when helping someone during an attack. 

Do

  • Stay calm and keep other people around you calm
  • Stay with the person for the duration of the seizure 
  • If the person is a stranger, check for identification, emergency contact information, or any other medical information
  • If the person is awake and alert, comfort the person and speak calmly
  • Keep track of the time and duration of the seizure
  • Check the person’s breathing 

Do’s For Generalised Motor Seizures (grand mal)

  • Gently lie the person onto the floor in a comfortable position
  • Turn the person onto one side to help maintain their airway
  • If possible, lie the person’s head onto something soft or flat, like a jacket
  • Remove anything hard or sharp around the person that may cause injuries. This includes any wearables on the person’s body
  • Loosen any items around the person’s neck, such as ties
  • Do not restrain the patient

After The Seizure 

  • Help the person to sit up or lie on their side in a recovery position 
  • If there’s vomit or fluid in the mouth, help them to sit or lie on their side immediately
  • If the person has regained consciousness, calmly explain in simple terms what has happened
  • Provide lots of reassurance 
  • If the person is asleep, monitor their breathing and do not disturb them
  • Ensure that the person gets home safely

Do Not!

  • Do not restrain or hold down the person during the seizure 
  • Do not move the person unless necessary
  • Do not offer the person water or food 
  • Do not put anything into their mouth.
  • Do not give CPR or any mouth-to-mouth first aid unless they become unconscious AND are not breathing normally

When You Should Call An Ambulance For A Seizure

You should call an ambulance in all situations unless directed otherwise by the patient’s medical practitioner.

How To Prevent Seizures

If your loved one suffers from seizures, here are some suggestions that may help minimise its occurrence: 

  • Take prescription medications as advised by the GP
  • Get enough exercise and maintain a healthy diet  
  • Avoid alcohol and any misuse of substances 
  • Get at least 7-9 hours sleep a day
  • Practice good stress management techniques 
  • Keep a diary of the seizures and their triggers to avoid them 
  • Enrol on a first aid training program to learn how to manage seizures the right way 

Learn First Aid For Seizures With Vital First Aid

Vital First Aid’s training programs ensure that you’re always ready to provide the proper support when needed. Visit our courses page to see what courses we offer and what you can expect to learn.

The Ultimate First Aid Guide To Funnel-Web Spider Bites

spider web

Quick facts:

  • Australia is home to over 40 species of funnel-web spiders
  • There have been 13 documented deaths from funnel-web spider bites
  • Over 100 people have been saved from antivenom
  • 30-40 people are bitten by funnel-web spiders yearly in Australia

For immediate first aid treatment for funnel-web spider bites, follow these steps:

  1. Stay calm
  2. Call 000
  3. Apply a pressure bandage
  4. Splint the limb
  5. Be ready to perform CPR

For a more depth explanation of first aid treatment, and a helpful infographic, click here.

Atracids, more commonly known as funnel-webs, are a notorious family of spiders that are native to Australia. The not-so-itsy-bitsy funnel-web spider is one of the most venomous spiders in the world, and is responsible for 13 fatalities.

Luckily, in 1981 an antivenom was developed. Since then, there have been no recorded deaths and over 100 people have been saved by the antivenom.

But 30-40 people are bitten by funnel-web spiders every year in Australia. And when not treated correctly there can be fatal or very serious consequences.

Furthermore, funnel-web spiders thrive in humid conditions, as it’s their preferred weather for mating (9 News). This means the Australian summer, which spikes to an average humidity of 65%, offers the perfect conditions for funnel-web spiders. 

That’s why it’s important to be prepared for the unfortunate situation of a funnel-web spider bite, and better yet, know how to avoid the situation altogether. 

In this guide, we’ll look at the dangers of funnel-web spiders, and how to avoid, identify symptoms of, and treat a funnel-web spider bite.

Navigate:

What Makes Funnel-Web Spiders So Dangerous?

Australia is home to over 40 species of funnel-web spiders (Australian Museum). However, not all species are known to be dangerous. The deadliest species is the male of Atrax robustus, more commonly known as the Sydney funnel-web spider, which is responsible for all recorded deaths and many more bites which have led to serious medical emergencies.

What makes the Sydney funnel-web spider particularly so fatal are delta-hexatoxins, which are the neurotoxic peptides found in the venom (The University of Queensland). The Sydney funnel-web spiders’ toxins originally evolved to prey on insects such as cockroaches and flies. But as the male spiders left the safety of their burrow they started to encounter dangerous vertebrate predators, such as birds and bandicoots. This natural selection put pressure on the venom of the male spider to switch from insect-specific to vertebrate-specific. 

And unfortunately, we humans are vertebrate species. And this venom can kill a human in just 15 minutes (Australian Geographic).

How To Avoid A Funnel-Web Spider Bite

To avoid a bite from a funnel-web spider it’s crucial to know what they look like and where you’ll likely find them.

How to identify a funnel-web spider:

  • Black body and legs
  • Shiny carapace (front part of their body)
  • Medium to large size (1cm to 5cm)

If a spider fits the above criteria, it is best to avoid it carefully. 

Even if it’s not a funnel-web spider, it could still be another dangerous ‘big black spider’, such as the mouse spider, which is venomous and very common in Australian households. 

So where do funnel-web spiders live? 

Funnel-web spiders are typically found in the moist forest regions of Australia’s east coast, ranging from Tasmania to North Queensland. 

As they like to make their burrows in moist sheltered habitats, you likely won’t find them in the middle of your backyard lawn, but rather under loose rocks, bark, or logs while gardening. 

Now you know what to look out for, here’s how you can significantly reduce your chances of being bitten by a funnel-web spider:

  • Keep your garden free of rubble and rubbish where spiders can hide
  • Wear fully-enclosed shoes with socks, gloves and a long sleeved shirt when gardening
  • Proactively check your shoes and household items for funnel-web spiders

Symptoms Of Funnel-Web Spider Bites

If you think you or someone else has been bitten by a funnel-web spider, look out for the following symptoms:

  • Visible puncture wounds
  • Extreme soreness around the bite wound
  • Swelling and redness
  • Nausea and abdominal pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • General muscle numbness and muscle spasms
  • Profuse sweating
  • Heavy coughing

Treatment Of Funnel-Web Spider Bites

If the victim is displaying the above symptoms, you should immediately take the following action:

  • Stay calm – keep the victim calm and still as this helps to slow the flow of venom
  • Call 000
  • Apply a pressure bandage – start at the bottom of the affected limb (fingers or toes) and wind firmly to the top (shoulder or hip)
  • Splint the limb to stop movement if possible
  • Be actively ready to perform CPR if the victim loses consciousness and stops breathing
first aid for funnel-web spider bites infographic
Download This First Aid Resource For Funnel-Web Bites Here

Learn First Aid & CPR This Summer With Vital First Aid

Not only can learning first aid and CPR be crucial in dealing with a funnel-web spider bite, but it can save lives in a variety of situations.

Our first aid courses and CPR courses are run throughout the summer by our professional and friendly team.

We hold courses throughout Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast.

If you’re interested, call us today, or book a course online.