Final answer:
It is true that not all seizures require calling 911, but in situations such as prolonged seizures, repeated seizures without recovery, or if the individual has other health risks (injury, pregnancy, diabetes), it becomes necessary to seek emergency assistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that it is not usually necessary to call 911 when someone has a seizure. Most seizures are self-limiting and stop on their own without emergency medical assistance. However, there are specific circumstances where calling 911 is the appropriate response. These include when a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes (status epilepticus), if a person has difficulty breathing or waking after the seizure ends, if a seizure occurs in water, if there's a second seizure without full recovery from the first, or if the person is injured, pregnant, or has diabetes.
Estimates suggest that up to three percent of people in the United States will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime, and while the condition can often be controlled with anticonvulsant medications, severe cases may require brain surgery. Understanding when to seek medical assistance for seizures is an important part of handling epilepsy and other conditions that lead to seizures.