A third of Britons confess they would be in ‘flight mode’ if someone nearby started having an epileptic seizure. Over half of UK adults are worried they wouldn’t know how to react if a stranger collapsed and began seizing in public, according to a survey of 2,000 adults.
The majority have never been taught how to handle such a situation and fear they could make things worse. Meanwhile, 16 per cent believe someone else would be better equipped to assist. Respondents said they felt more confident dealing with incidents involving broken bones, choking or panic attacks.
While seizures can take many forms, some less noticeable than others, many participants admitted they would only recognise a seizure if the person was convulsing on the ground.
In such scenarios, one in ten revealed their first instinct would be to try and restrain the person, which experts warn against. Others would mistakenly attempt to place something in the person’s mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue.
Rebekah Smith, CEO of Epilepsy Action, who commissioned the study as part of the ‘Could I Count On You’ campaign, labelled the statistics as ‘shocking’ and ‘really concerning’.
Given that one in every 100 people suffers from epilepsy, Rebekah emphasised “it’s vital we know the basics to help them.”
Further research of 891 who have the condition found the majority thought it was unlikely a member of the public would step in, in an emergency
Over half expressed fears they could seriously injure themselves, with no one nearby to ensure their safety until the seizure ended. The same proportion emphasised that people might misinterpret, judge, or fear them if they had an episode.
Nearly half stated they would feel ‘very reassured’ if the public had a better understanding of how to respond in these situations.
Murray Goulder, 45, from Crawley, suffers from absence seizures, which means he can walk without any awareness of his actions or location during these episodes.
The survey indicated that if a member of the public saw someone walking towards a busy road, a seizure would be one of the last reasons they would consider for their behaviour.
One day, whilst making his way back from work at Farringdon Station, Murray discovered himself heading towards a platform.
“I remember walking down the stairs,” he recalled, “then being told I had dropped my bag and walked towards the platform.”
Luckily, a compassionate stranger stepped in.
This good Samaritan not only stopped Murray but also joined him on the next train, journeying 45 minutes out of his way to get him to the local station team who ensured Murray reached home safely.
Rebekah added: “Seizures are more common than people think and can take many forms, from convulsive seizures to brief episodes of lost awareness.
“Most stop within a couple of minutes, that’s why staying calm is so important – it allows you to think clearly, provide reassurance, and respond in a way that’s helpful rather than harmful.
“Your presence and level-headedness can be incredibly reassuring for the person when they regain awareness. The best thing you can do for someone having a seizure is to remain calm, keep them safe, and wait it out.”