What should you do immediately after a seizure has stopped?

After a seizure has stopped, ensuring the airway is clear is crucial for the safety and health of the individual. During a seizure, a person may lose consciousness and can be at risk for airway obstruction due to relaxation of the throat muscles or unresponsiveness. By ensuring the airway is clear, you prevent potential choking and facilitate proper breathing, which is essential following any seizure episode.

It’s also important to allow the person to come to full consciousness without putting them in a potentially hazardous position, which highlights the inappropriateness of moving them to a standing position or administering medications right after a seizure. Checking for a pulse is a valuable action, but it does not directly address the immediate risk of airway obstruction that may be present after a seizure. Therefore, prioritizing airway clearance is the most appropriate first step in post-seizure care.