It is a common belief that an individual may swallow their tongue during a seizure. Although it is possible that a person may bite their tongue, this rarely, if ever, causes serious injury. On the other hand, the human jaw is very powerful, and people have bitten off spoons, sticks and other objects during a seizure. In addition, placing anything in the person s mouth poses a greater danger of choking. If the seizure activity lasts more than five minutes, call for paramedics.
Most seizures are brief and self-limited, but they occasionally do last longer.
Remember that most seizures are brief and self-limited, and the patient is rarely in danger. However, if at any time there is concern for someone s safety, call for help. Written by Elizabeth Thiele, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant in neurology at Children s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School.