Seek professional medical help during a seizure if:

• The seizure has happened in water.
• There's no medical I.D., and no way of knowing whether the seizure is caused by epilepsy.
• The person is injured.
• The seizure continues for more than five minutes.
• A second seizure starts shortly after the first has ended.
• Consciousness does not start to return after the shaking has stopped.
• The person has one of the following conditions: diabetes, brain infections, heat exhaustion, pregnancy, poisoning, hypoglycemia, high fever, head injury.

If a person hits his or her head during a seizure, it may not be medically necessary to call an ambulance. However, their condition should be closely monitored after they regain consciousness. Only when a person exhibits the following signs should medical help be sought:

• Difficulty in maintaining consciousness (an observer should try to awaken the person at 20-minute intervals).
• Vomiting
• Vision problems
• Excessive sleepiness two hours or more after the seizure (unless, of course, the seizure has occurred late in the day and the person's usual bedtime is approaching).

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