Seizures in Water
For many people, the scariest aspect of epilepsy is not knowing when or where a seizure will occur. In certain situations, a loss of consciousness is especially dangerous and emergency care must go beyond the routine procedures. A seizure in water is one of these life-threatening situations.
Here are steps to follow if someone is having a seizure in water and they have a change or loss of consciousness:
- Support the person in the water with the head tilted so the face and head stay above the surface
- Call for help and remove the person from the water as quickly as possible.
- Do not restrain the person unless this is needed to get the person out of the water safely.
- Check to see whether the person is breathing. If not, begin CPR immediately.
- If breathing is normal, turn person on their side and hold them in side-lying position until they recover.
- Call an ambulance. Even if the person appears to be fully recovered, he or she should have a full medical checkup. Inhaling water can cause lung or heart damage.
If a seizure occurs in water but without any change in the person's awareness:
- Call for help and remove the person from the water as quickly as possible.
- Help the person to a safe place out of the water.
- Stay with them until the seizure is over.
Reviewed by
Patty Obsorne Shafer RN, MN
Reviewed Date
Wednesday, July 27, 2016