Updated ANZCOR Guideline 9.2.4 – First Aid Management of a Seizure

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The Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) has recently updated Guideline 9.2.4 – First Aid Management of a Seizure. These revisions clarify the correct first aid response during and after a seizure, with an emphasis on safety, airway management, and appropriate recovery positioning.

This update applies to all age groups—adults, children, and infants—and is designed for use by bystanders, first aiders, and first aid training providers.

Key Changes in the Updated Guideline

1. New emphasis on safety and positioning
The updated guideline now instructs first aiders to protect the person from danger, rather than remove them from danger. This subtle wording change better reflects the need to make the environment safe without unnecessarily moving the person during a seizure.

A major addition is the recommendation to position the person into a lateral, side-lying recovery position (lateral recumbent) once the seizure has stopped, if they are unresponsive but breathing normally. This helps maintain airway patency and reduces the risk of aspiration in the postictal phase.

2. During-seizure care clarified
The revised guideline provides clearer steps for managing a seizure as it occurs.
Key actions include:

  • If possible, ease the person’s fall to prevent injury.
  • Protect them from nearby hazards and cushion their head with something soft and flat.
  • Avoid restraining their movements unless absolutely necessary to prevent harm.
  • Never attempt to force the mouth open or place anything between the teeth.

These points reinforce that the priority during a seizure is safety, not intervention.

3. After the seizure
Once the convulsion stops, the focus shifts to reassessment and recovery:

  • If unresponsive and breathing normally, position the person into the lateral recumbent position.
  • Continue to monitor airway and breathing, manage as for any unconscious casualty, and offer reassurance once they regain awareness.
  • Do not offer food or drink until the person is fully alert.

4. When to call an ambulance
Emergency services should be contacted if:

  • The seizure occurs in water or the person is pregnant.
  • It is the person’s first seizure, or there is no known seizure management plan.
  • The seizure lasts longer than five minutes or another begins immediately after.
  • The person fails to regain consciousness within five minutes.
  • The event differs from their usual seizure pattern or there are concerns about injury.

Why These Updates Matter

These refinements ensure that first aiders prioritise airway protection, appropriate positioning, and patient safety without unnecessary handling. The distinction between care during and after the seizure promotes a structured approach that aligns with current evidence and best practice.

The new wording also provides clarity for trainers and assessors, helping ensure consistent teaching across first aid courses.

Stay Current with Best Practice

Seizures can happen anywhere, at any time — knowing how to respond can make all the difference. The latest ANZCOR updates highlight why it’s essential for every first aider to stay up to date with evidence-based care.

Enrol now

Our nationally recognised First Aid and CPR courses now incorporate these updated seizure management guidelines, ensuring you’re trained to respond confidently and correctly in real emergencies.

Check out our upcoming first aid course dates in Port Macquarie and Taree and enrol in a course today to refresh your skills, stay compliant with current standards, and be ready to provide lifesaving care when it matters most.

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