What constitutes a serious situation you should call EMS for when managing a seizure?

A serious situation during a seizure that warrants calling EMS is indicated when the seizure lasts for more than a few minutes. This duration is critical because prolonged seizures, known as status epilepticus, can lead to increased risk of injury, brain damage, or other serious health complications. When a seizure exceeds five minutes or when there are multiple seizures in a row without the person regaining consciousness in between, immediate medical intervention is necessary to ensure the safety and health of the individual.

The other options do not indicate a serious situation. If the person feels fine afterwards or is responsive immediately, it generally indicates that the seizure was a typical occurrence for them and may not require urgent medical attention. A loud noise during the seizure is not inherently a sign of a serious medical emergency; rather, it may indicate the environment or the nature of the seizure but does not, by itself, necessitate calling EMS. Understanding these distinctions is essential for providing appropriate care during seizure events.