Which of the following is a standard seizure precaution?

• A. Side rails up
• B. Keep the patient supine
• C. Do not keep suction equipment at bedside
• D. Isolate the patient from others

Answer: (A)

Safety during seizures centers on preventing injury and protecting the airway. Raising the side rails provides a physical barrier that helps prevent a patient from falling out of bed or striking the head during convulsions, making it a standard precaution for seizure safety. It also allows caregivers quick, safe access to assist without the patient wandering or injuring themselves.

Keeping the patient supine isn’t appropriate because a supine position can compromise airway protection during a seizure and after it ends, turning the patient to a side-lying recovery position helps drainage and breathing. Suction equipment should be at the bedside to manage secretions or vomit if needed, and isolating the patient isn’t a seizure precaution since seizures aren’t contagious. The focus remains on injury prevention and airway safety during and after a seizure.