A generalized tonic-clonic seizure can be frightening to observe but these are usually self-limited events and not life-threatening. People do not swallow their tongues during seizures so the common belief that something needs to be placed in the person’s mouth is absolutely wrong. This can cause serious injury to the person having the seizure or to the person who is trying to help. It’s important to ensure that the person having the seizure does not injure him- or herself by placing something soft under the head and removing hard or sharp objects from the area. It is normal for the person to stop breathing briefly after the seizure, and even to turn blue, but this is not cause for alarm. At this point, it is helpful to turn the person on his or her side so fluids that accumulate in the mouth can drain. It is then important for someone to stay with the person until full consciousness returns and it is possible to ask the person if they need additional help. If the person is known to have epilepsy usually nothing more is required. It is not necessary to call an ambulance unless the person has never had such a seizure before, there was an injury during the seizure, the seizure occurred in water, the person is pregnant, the tonic-clonic phase lasts longer than four minutes, or a second seizure occurs before consciousness returns. It is difficult to estimate how long a seizure is lasting, so it is important to note the time when the seizure begins, if possible. Calling an ambulance to go to an emergency room for a habitual seizure in someone with known epilepsy only adds to their disability by introducing additional cost and extensive wasted time. There is nothing to do for less severe seizures other than wait for them to end, but for focal seizures with impaired conscious control, it may be necessary to keep the person from harm. Attempts to restrain the person should be avoided, however, as this might be perceived as threatening and provoke a combative response that makes the situation worse.