Living Well at Home UKClear, practical guidance for later life
Urgent health guide

By Does Your Duck Quack

Epilepsy and seizure planning at home

Epilepsy home care: prepare a seizure plan, learn first aid, record events, reduce home risks and know when to call 999.

Checked: 4 October 2026 · Next review: 4 April 2027 · Applies to: UK, with nation notes
How this guide was prepared

Purpose: urgent guidance · Level: detailed

Checked by: Does Your Duck Quack. Sources are linked below; seek professional advice for individual circumstances.

The short answer

What to do first

Epilepsy home care: prepare a seizure plan, learn first aid, record events, reduce home risks and know when to call 999.

Start here: Record what the person’s seizures look like, what usually happens before and after, whether they need support with recovery, and whom to contact. Include prescribed rescue medicine instructions only if the epilepsy team has provided them, and state who is trained or authorised to give it. Add allergies, relevant health conditions and the person’s preferred way to be supported. Keep a copy at home and make sure regular carers know where it is. Review it with the clinical team after a change in seizures, medicines, living arrangements or support.

Do not wait: Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or longer than the person’s plan allows, seizures follow one another without recovery, the person is injured, has trouble breathing, it is their first seizure, or it happens in water. Follow the person’s seizure plan if it says to call earlier.

Visual guides

See the decision at a glance

Seizure first aid
  1. ProtectKeep the person away from danger, cushion the head, loosen tight neckwear and note the start time.
  2. Do not restrainDo not hold them down or put anything in their mouth. Give prescribed rescue medicine only if trained and authorised.
  3. After movements stopCheck breathing, place them on their side when safe, stay with them and follow their individual plan.
When to call 999 for a seizure
  1. Call for urgent dangerCall 999 if it is the first known seizure, lasts longer than stated in the plan or five minutes when no plan applies, or repeats without recovery.
  2. Also callFor serious injury, breathing difficulty, seizure in water, pregnancy, or when the person does not recover as usual.
  3. Follow the personal planA known condition may have specific emergency instructions from the clinical team.
Personal seizure plan
  1. Usual patternWhat seizures look like, typical duration, recovery and known triggers.
  2. ActionFirst aid, timing, rescue medicine, who is trained and exact thresholds for emergency help.
  3. AftercareObservation, injuries, recording, contacts, medicine review and when the plan was last checked.

Scope of this guide

This guide helps you understand the options and questions to ask. It is not personal medical, legal or financial advice. Check the official sources for your nation and seek qualified help for high-stakes decisions.

If someone may be in immediate danger

Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. For an urgent problem that is not clearly life-threatening, use the official NHS urgent-care route for the UK nation you are in. Have the address, symptoms, onset time, medicines and allergies ready.

Who this guide is for

People with epilepsy and the family or carers who want a calm, agreed plan for seizures, medicines, home routines and emergencies.

A seizure plan helps other people respond in a way that matches the person’s usual seizures and wishes. It should be prepared with the person and their epilepsy team, and shared only with people who need it. A first seizure or a clear change in pattern needs medical advice. The aim at home is not to prevent every seizure through restriction, but to reduce avoidable injury while keeping everyday choices and independence wherever possible.

What to do now

1. Write and share an individual seizure plan

Record what the person’s seizures look like, what usually happens before and after, whether they need support with recovery, and whom to contact. Include prescribed rescue medicine instructions only if the epilepsy team has provided them, and state who is trained or authorised to give it. Add allergies, relevant health conditions and the person’s preferred way to be supported. Keep a copy at home and make sure regular carers know where it is. Review it with the clinical team after a change in seizures, medicines, living arrangements or support.

2. Use seizure first aid and protect dignity

Stay with the person, move nearby hazards away and cushion their head with something soft. Loosen tight clothing around the neck and note when the seizure starts. Do not restrain their movements and do not put anything in their mouth. When the convulsions stop, if they are breathing, place them on their side when safe and stay until they are fully alert. Speak calmly and explain where they are; confusion or tiredness afterwards can be frightening. Avoid offering food, drink or tablets until they are fully awake and able to swallow safely.

3. Record seizures and share useful details

A brief record can help clinicians understand patterns and whether the plan is working. Note the date and time, what the person was doing, how the seizure began, movements or awareness changes, how long it lasted, injuries, recovery and any missed medicine or illness. Record observations rather than guesses about cause. A witness can write notes while the person rests, but do not film without consent unless the clinician has asked and privacy can be protected. Bring the record to reviews and tell the epilepsy team about new or prolonged seizures.

4. Use medicines and rescue treatment exactly as prescribed

Take regular epilepsy medicine according to the person’s prescription and use a reminder system if that helps. If a dose is missed, check the medicine leaflet or ask a pharmacist, epilepsy nurse or prescriber; do not double a dose unless specifically instructed. Never share medicines or change the dose without clinical advice. Rescue medicine is only for the situation and person described in their plan; whoever gives it must be trained and follow the instructions. Ask the epilepsy team how to check expiry dates, keep it safely and replace it when needed.

5. Review everyday safety without removing independence

Consider where seizures are most likely to create injury: bathing, cooking, open flames, stairs, swimming, sleeping or working alone. The person and clinician can agree practical steps such as showering instead of bathing, using rear hob rings, preparing food seated, or asking someone to be nearby for higher-risk tasks. A seizure alarm or monitor may suit some people but cannot guarantee detection or prevent harm; ask the team whether it fits the seizure pattern and what action follows an alert. Avoid locking someone away or making blanket restrictions without an individual assessment.

6. Know driving, emergency and carer support routes

After a seizure, the person must stop driving and follow the licensing rules that apply: DVLA in Great Britain and DVA in Northern Ireland. The notification and return-to-driving requirements depend on the seizure type and circumstances, so confirm them with the epilepsy team and relevant licensing agency before driving again. Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, seizures follow one another without recovery, the person is injured, has trouble breathing, or it is their first seizure. Carers can ask the GP or council/trust for an assessment and for help with respite, training and emotional support.

Warning signs and checks

Common questions

What should I put in an epilepsy seizure plan?

Describe the person’s usual seizure, what supporters should do during and afterwards, when to call 999, and who should be contacted. Include prescribed rescue medicine only with the exact instructions and the names of people trained to give it. Add the person’s preferences, relevant health information and emergency contact details. Develop it with the epilepsy team, share it with chosen supporters and update it after any change in seizures, treatment or living arrangements.

When should I call 999 for a seizure?

Call 999 if it is the person’s first seizure, a seizure lasts more than five minutes, another seizure begins before they recover, they are injured, have breathing difficulty, or the seizure happens in water. Follow an individual care plan if it sets an earlier threshold. During a convulsive seizure, protect the person from nearby hazards, time it and do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Stay with them and explain what happened as they recover.

Should I give rescue medicine during a seizure?

Only give rescue medicine if it has been prescribed for that person and their seizure plan says when and how to use it. The plan should name who is trained or authorised, the dose and route, and when emergency services are needed. Do not use another person’s medicine or improvise a dose. If the instructions are unclear, ask the epilepsy nurse or prescriber before an emergency. If the seizure meets the person’s 999 criteria, call even if rescue medicine is given.

Can someone drive after an epileptic seizure?

They should stop driving after a seizure and follow the licensing rules and medical advice before driving again. In Great Britain the licensing agency is DVLA; in Northern Ireland it is DVA. Requirements depend on the seizure type, history and circumstances, so a general time period may not apply. Tell the epilepsy team and relevant licensing agency, and do not resume driving until the person has confirmed they meet the current rules.

Differences across the UK

Epilepsy care is provided through NHS services across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but clinic pathways, urgent-care services and social-care support are organised locally. Driving rules are UK-wide in broad principle but licensing is handled by DVLA in Great Britain and DVA in Northern Ireland. The individual should not drive after a seizure until they have followed the relevant notification and medical advice. Ask the epilepsy team for nation-specific contacts and local carer support.

When to get urgent help

Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or longer than the person’s plan allows, seizures follow one another without recovery, the person is injured, has trouble breathing, it is their first seizure, or it happens in water. Follow the person’s seizure plan if it says to call earlier.

Primary sources

The publisher checked this guide against the 7 official sources below. This is an editorial source check, not approval by a clinician, lawyer or benefits adviser.

Editorial note: By Does Your Duck Quack.