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Mirgi Ka Daura: What to Do During a Seizure

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First Aid Guide

Mirgi ka daura (مرگی کا دورہ) can look frightening. These simple steps show what to do, what to avoid and when to call 1122.

By SIEHS7 min read14 October 2026

Seizure first aid matters because a seizure can start without warning. As a result, the people nearby often panic. However, you do not need medical training to help. Calm and simple steps keep the person safe until the seizure ends.

This guide explains the steps in plain words. Many families say mirgi ka daura (مرگی کا دورہ) for a seizure, and search for mirgi (مرگی) online. In addition, the steps come from MedlinePlus (NIH), Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and NHS Healthier Together, and each section names its source.

At a glance

  • Stay calm and note the time the seizure starts.
  • Move hard or sharp things away and cushion the head.
  • Do not hold the person down, and do not put anything in the mouth.
  • When you can, turn the person onto their side.
  • Call 1122 if it lasts 5 minutes or longer, or if it is a first seizure.

1What is a seizure, and is it the same as epilepsy?

According to Mayo Clinic, a seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. It can change behavior, movements, feelings and how aware a person is.

Seizures also look different from person to person. For example, Cleveland Clinic says a seizure can be as mild as staring for a few seconds, or as strong as convulsions.

However, a seizure is not always epilepsy. Mayo Clinic defines epilepsy as two or more seizures, at least 24 hours apart, with no known cause. Therefore, a person can have one seizure and never have epilepsy.

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Word note: you may hear mirgi (مرگی) for epilepsy and mirgi ka daura for a seizure. In this guide, we use the medical words seizure and epilepsy.

2Seizure first aid: what to do during a seizure, step by step

A young man kneeling on the living room floor with his hands on the shoulders of an older man who has fallen, a walking cane beside them

First, take a breath. Then follow the steps below in order, because each step keeps the person safer.

These steps also work as epilepsy first aid. MedlinePlus lists the same steps for a person with epilepsy who has a seizure.

Also, remember that your job is to keep the person safe. You cannot stop the seizure, so do not try.

1Right away

  • Stay calm
  • Note the time the seizure starts, using a watch or phone
  • Look for a medical ID bracelet or necklace
  • Move or guide the person away from harmful or sharp objects
Source: MedlinePlus, NHS Healthier Together

2While it lasts

  • Cushion the head with something soft
  • Loosen tight clothing around the neck
  • When you can, turn the person onto their side
  • If it is safe, record the seizure on your phone for the doctor
  • Stay until they are fully awake and alert
Source: MedlinePlus, NHS Healthier Together

Also, MedlinePlus says that if the person is awake and aware, you can help them sit down.

3What not to do

Some actions feel natural but are unsafe. For example, holding the person down or putting something in the mouth may seem helpful. However, trusted medical pages say not to do this.

X

Do not put anything in the mouth. This includes your fingers, food and drink. NHS Healthier Together and MedlinePlus both say so.

XDo not

  • Hold the person down or try to stop their movements
  • Put anything between the teeth, or try to hold the tongue
  • Give food or drink until they are fully awake and alert
  • Move them, unless they are in danger
  • Start CPR during the seizure
Source: MedlinePlus, NHS Healthier Together

?About CPR

  • MedlinePlus says to start CPR only if the seizure has clearly stopped and the person is not breathing or has no pulse
  • Therefore, watch the breathing once the movements stop
Source: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

4When to call 1122 during a seizure

Three SIEHS paramedics preparing an oxygen mask and cylinder beside a patient on an ambulance stretcher in a street

Most pages agree on the main rule. Call for help if a seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer. This is why you note the time at the start.

In addition, there are other warning signs. They are listed below.

1122

Emergency? Call 1122. The free SIEHS ambulance service is available in Sindh. Read about the free ambulance service.

!Call right away if

  • The seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer
  • It is the person’s first seizure
  • Another seizure starts soon after, without waking in between
  • They have trouble breathing, or are not breathing after it stops
  • The person does not wake up or return to normal
Source: Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus, NHS Healthier Together

!Also call if

  • It happens in water
  • The person is hurt
  • The person is pregnant
  • The person has diabetes
  • The person has a high fever
Source: Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus

These pages are from the UK and the US, so they name 999 and 911. In Sindh, call 1122. Also, one MedlinePlus page says 2 to 5 minutes. Therefore, if you are worried, call early.

5After the seizure ends

When the movements stop, the person is not back to normal yet. In fact, Cleveland Clinic says people often feel confused, exhausted or sore after a seizure.

First, stay with them. Then reassure them, let them rest and keep watching until they have fully recovered. This is advice from NHS Healthier Together.

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Get emergency help if the person is still drowsy or confused after more than an hour. Also call if they have weakness in an arm or leg, vision problems or trouble speaking. NHS Healthier Together gives this advice for young people.

However, if it is not an emergency but you still have questions, call Tele-Tabeeb 1123 to talk to a doctor for free, 24/7.

Frequently asked questions

What is a seizure, and what is mirgi ka daura?

A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It can change behavior, movement, feelings, and awareness. Mirgi ka daura (مرگی کا دورہ) is how many people say it in Urdu.

What should I do first when someone is having a seizure?

Stay calm and note the time. Move hard or sharp objects away and cushion their head. Do not hold them down. When you can, turn them onto their side, and stay until they are fully awake.

Should I put something in the mouth of a person having a seizure?

No. Do not put anything in their mouth, including fingers. Also, do not give food or drink until they are fully alert.

How long can a seizure last before it becomes an emergency?

Call for help if it lasts 5 minutes or longer. Also call for a first seizure, one seizure after another without waking, or trouble breathing. In Sindh, call 1122, the free SIEHS ambulance.

Is every seizure epilepsy?

No. Epilepsy means two or more seizures, at least 24 hours apart, with no known cause. A doctor should check any first seizure. The first aid steps are the same for a person with epilepsy.

What should I do after a seizure ends?

Reassure the person and let them rest. Keep watching until they have fully recovered, because they may feel confused, tired, or sore. For non-emergency advice, call Tele-Tabeeb 1123, a free doctor, 24/7.

6First seizure, and what about mirgi ka ilaj?

Many people search for mirgi ka ilaj, or epilepsy treatment, after they see a seizure. However, this guide covers first aid only. It does not cover treatment.

Mayo Clinic says that anyone who has a seizure for the first time should see a healthcare professional. Also, Cleveland Clinic advises going to the emergency room for a first seizure.

A seizure can have a trigger. For example, Cleveland Clinic names low blood sugar and high fever. Therefore, a doctor needs to find the cause before any treatment is decided.

1123

Need advice on the next step? Tele-Tabeeb 1123 has a free doctor available 24/7. Read how Tele-Tabeeb works.

7Be prepared: seizure first aid you can learn today

A seizure is hard to plan for. Still, a few small habits help a lot.

Finally, share these steps with your family and colleagues. Then more people will know what to do.

A hand holding a digital stopwatch, shown in black and white

AAt home and work

  • Save 1122 and 1123 in every phone
  • Know how to start the stopwatch on your phone
  • Learn the steps in this guide
  • Join first aid training
Numbers and training: SIEHS advice

BIf someone you know has seizures

  • MedlinePlus and NHS say to look for a medical ID bracelet or necklace
  • Ask their doctor for a seizure plan
  • Follow their care plan if they have one
Source: MedlinePlus, NHS Healthier Together

Also, for another emergency, read what to do when someone is choking. Learning first aid matters as much as knowing the steps. Read about SIEHS community training. In addition, workplaces can read about basic life support training.

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Sources

  1. MedlinePlus Magazine (NIH), How to help someone who is having a seizure (September 2021).
  2. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (NIH), Seizures (reviewed April 2025).
  3. Cleveland Clinic, Seizure: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Types (July 2024).
  4. Mayo Clinic, Seizures: Symptoms and causes (November 2024).
  5. NHS Healthier Together, Seizures.
  6. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (NIH), Epilepsy or seizures, discharge (reviewed August 2024).

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Therefore, ask a doctor about any seizure, diagnosis or treatment. In an emergency, call 1122 immediately.

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