Brazil considers mandatory national seizure first aid protocol

A bill currently under consideration in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies seeks to mandate the national dissemination of the ‘Calma’ protocol, a set of guidelines for providing first aid during seizures.

Developed by the Brazilian Epilepsy Association (ABE), the ‘Calma’ mnemonic provides five essential steps: staying calm, moving sharp or dangerous objects away from the victim, turning the person on their side to clear airways, timing the seizure (calling emergency services if it exceeds five minutes), and monitoring the individual until they regain full consciousness.

The proposal, introduced by Deputy Luciano Vieira, aims to combat misinformation and reduce the risk of injury or fractures caused by sudden loss of consciousness. Medical estimates suggest approximately 10% of the global population may experience at least one seizure in their lifetime.