What to Do When a Student Has a Seizure: A Practical Guide for School Staff

What to Do When a Student Has a Seizure

Witnessing a seizure for the first time can be frightening — especially in a school setting where the priority is keeping children safe and calm. Yet seizures are one of the more common medical events school staff encounter, particularly given that epilepsy affects around one in 100 Australians, many of whom are school-aged children.

Knowing what to do — and what not to do — makes an enormous difference. Here is a practical, plain-language guide for teachers, aides, and school first aid officers.

Understanding What a Seizure Actually Is

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. This can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on which part of the brain is affected — from brief staring spells or muscle twitching to full tonic-clonic seizures involving loss of consciousness and convulsions.

Not every seizure looks like what you see in movies. Some children simply freeze for a few seconds and then carry on as if nothing happened. Others may become confused, wander, or behave unusually. Recognising the range of seizure presentations is part of being prepared.

The Correct First Aid Response

The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and Epilepsy Action Australia outline the following steps for managing a convulsive seizure.

Stay calm and stay with the child. Your calm presence matters — both for the child and for any students watching.

Time the seizure. Note when it starts. A seizure lasting longer than five minutes is a medical emergency requiring a call to 000.

Protect from injury — do not restrain. Clear the area of hard or sharp objects. Gently guide the child away from danger if needed, but never hold them down.

Do not put anything in their mouth. This is a common myth that can cause serious harm. People cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure.

Place them in the recovery position once the convulsions stop. Stay with them and speak quietly as they come around.

Call 000 if: the seizure lasts more than five minutes, the child does not regain consciousness, they have a second seizure, or they are injured.

After the Seizure

Most seizures are followed by a post-ictal phase where the child may be confused, drowsy, or distressed. This can last from a few minutes to over an hour. Give them time and a quiet space to recover, notify parents or carers, and document the seizure accurately for the child’s medical team.

School Obligations Under Victorian Law

The Department of Education Victoria (DET) requires schools to have a health support plan in place for students with medical conditions including epilepsy, including an Individual Health Support Plan and Emergency Management Plan. WorkSafe Victoria also requires workplaces — including schools — to have adequate first aid provisions and trained personnel who can respond effectively to a medical emergency.

Common Myths School Staff Should Know

Myth: Hold the person down so they do not hurt themselves. Restraining someone during a seizure can cause injury and does not stop the seizure.

Myth: Put something in their mouth to stop them biting their tongue. This is dangerous and unnecessary — biting injuries are generally minor, but airway obstruction is not.

Myth: A seizure always means epilepsy. Seizures can be caused by fever, low blood sugar, dehydration, or other factors. One seizure does not confirm a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Get Your School Team Trained

First aid training gives school staff the confidence and practical skills to respond calmly and correctly when a medical event happens. AB First Aid in Tullamarine delivers nationally recognised first aid training tailored to school environments — covering seizure response, anaphylaxis, asthma, CPR, and more.

Whether you need to train a small group of staff or your whole team, we offer flexible scheduling to work around the school timetable. Book your school first aid training with AB First Aid today and make sure your team is ready when it counts.

References

• Australian Resuscitation Council. (2023). Guideline 9.2.6 — Management of Seizures. resus.org.au
• Epilepsy Action Australia. (2024). First Aid for Seizures. epilepsy.org.au
• Department of Education Victoria. (2024). Students with Medical Conditions — Health Support Planning. education.vic.gov.au
• WorkSafe Victoria. (2023). First Aid in the Workplace. worksafe.vic.gov.au
• Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (2024). Febrile Convulsions. rch.org.au