Febrile seizures in children
1
Keep them safe.Move anything dangerous away. Protect their head with your hands or something soft. Note the time it starts.
2
Don't hold them down, and put nothing in their mouth.
4
When it stops, put them in the recovery position.
5
Stay with them and keep them calm until help arrives.
Cooling them down
Don't sponge them with water to cool them, and don't underdress or over-wrap them.
Tell the call handler if
- The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
- They have difficulty breathing
- It affects only one side of their body
- They're unusually sleepy for more than an hour afterwards
- They have more than one seizure in 24 hours
What is a febrile seizure?
A seizure in a young child, usually between 6 months and 6 years old, caused by a high temperature. Most last 2 to 3 minutes.
Good to know
Paracetamol or ibuprofen don't prevent febrile seizures.